Thursday, October 28, 2010

Scott and Peggy

This is Scott. ("Hi, Scott!")


This is Peggy. ("Hi, Peggy!")


Scott and Peggy are married.


Scott used to work at Crane with Justin, until he retired a couple years ago after being diagnosed with ALS. Now Scott is in an electric wheelchair and effectively cannot use his legs or arms. He sometimes needs to use a breathing machine.

Mommy and Liam did not know Scott and Peggy until they started going to Movie Night with Daddy. Each Tuesday night, some of Scott's friends from Crane get together at the house (which Scott designed himself - and is it ever lovely!) to watch a movie and chat. Chew the fat. Shoot the... poo.

People have brought all different kinds of movies to watch: How to Train Your Dragon, The Invention of Lying, Blade Runner... even a movie called Anvil (think real-life Spinal Tap times 11).
At any rate, Movie Night is FUN, especially for Mommy, since she gets to talk to real, live, intelligent, funny people.

A couple weeks ago in Indianapolis there was a benefit walk for ALS ("Indiana Walk to Defeat ALS"). Mommy, Daddy, and Liam all went, along with other friends of Scott and Peggy. It was cold and rainy that day, and although Liam was probably the warmest, most bundled-up person at the walk, we sat with Scott and Peggy and the Shaff family in the White River State Park Visitor's Center while the other walkers braved the 2 mile walk in the rain. We felt bad that we ditched, but next year we will join the walkers!




This week's Movie Night was cancelled. But that is OK! Because that means Scott and Peggy are still Ohio. And that means Scott got to be part of a clinical trial in which he is fitted with what is essentially a pace-maker for his diaphragm. In fact, the word on the street is he is out of surgery and will be home on Friday or Saturday.

So say a little prayer for these two crazy kids.

Liam's Adventure with Grandma and Grandpa J

A message from Liam, as dictated by Grandma J...

Grandma and Grandpa J came from Wisconsin for a few days of adventure with me. On Sunday they went to church with us and then took me to my first gun show. For lunch we went to a BBQ restaurant and Mom gave me bits of turkey for the first time.

On Monday Daddy drove us all down to Bedford to see all of its sights. We stopped at a couple boat landings on Lake Monroe so Grandpa J could see what the lake is like. At one of the stops we got out of the car and I climbed a tree for a few minutes. Grandma J says I get some of my tree climbing ability from Mommy.

Then the big people thought we should drive to Nashville to lunch, but for 11 minutes I explained to them why that was a bad idea.

I can't wait until Grandma and Grandpa J come to visit again!




Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Playing in the Leaves

Liam and Mommy played in the leaves the other day.

Don't you just love the smell of freshly fallen leaves on a warm autumn day?





You Know It's a Bad Day When...

... the baby's diaper change includes a bath.

And midway through the bath you realize there are no towels in the bathroom.

And you hear Snickers clicking around in the nursery, where you remember you left the terrifyingly messy diaper. (Incidentally, if you come to visit, don't let Snickers lick you on the mouth. Just in case.)

And trying to re-diaper the baby is like trying to wrangle a greased pig. Did you know that even if you are holding the baby's pelvis down, he can turn the rest of his body around 360 degrees? It is a fact. And he is strong. We've started doing diaper changes on the floor. Because he can't fall off the floor.

Question of the Day: Finish this sentence. "I know it's a bad day when..."

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Pulling Up

We had some great suggestions of new baby foods to try. Liam couldn't decide which he liked best, so he wants to give each of you 10 baby hugs and 10 baby kisses!
Grandma J, would you bring some leeks with you when you come IN A WEEK AND A HALF(!!)?
Peggy and Scott, we're going to watch for Brussels sprouts at the Farmer's Market. Roasted sprouts are sounding pretty good right now!
Daddy, should we make some broccoli and baked salmon and share with the baby?
Grandpa Peeber, we'll have to be sure to take a deer next month, so that Liam can eat lots of venison in the coming year.

We did cook up some lentils and some chicken for Liam a couple days ago. Yesterday he tried the chicken. Even though it was pureed with a little broth, it still seemed a bit dry. Maybe that is just the nature of white meat chicken. Anyway, once it was mixed with peaches, that kid ate it up without breathing between bites! We have not yet tried the lentils.

Liam still likes gumming apple slices. Last night he was gumming one so enthusiastically that he was taking chunks off of it! After Daddy took the baby for his bath, Snickers and Bounder got leftover gummed apple in their dinner bowls. These dogs are going to be so spoiled (more).

In the last couple days Liam has been very hungry (eating every two hours) and very clingy. Does this mean he is having a growth spurt? He is about due for one. He will be 7 months next week - can you believe it? Mommy refuses to believe it.

OH! BIG NEWS! The baby can pull himself up to standing now! He has done so once on the open oven drawer and several times on Mommy's knees, when she lays on the ground with him. It is a good thing Liam wears such soft, padded diapers; he sometimes lets go of his support and lands on his fat bottom. We are trying to get a photo of him standing, but he is tricky and only does it when the camera is not around.

Yay for frost! There are no more bugs outside to bite us, so playing out in the grass has become fun. Too bad the grass is all brown and dead and crunchy. But Liam doesn't care - he can eat it just as easily as he eats green grass. We have been sitting outside in the afternoons to watch the dogs play. Liam likes it when they wrestle and chase each other, even though Snickers sometimes runs him over. One of these days, before all the leaves fall, Mommy would like to take Liam for a hike at McCormick's Creek Park. Perhaps she can convince Daddy to take a day off and join them.

Daddy is trying to come up with Halloween costumes we could wear to an upcoming party. His ideas for him and Liam include:
-Ghostbusters and Slimer
-Pirates and parrot (or monkey)
Do you have any costume ideas?

No pictures today, but there will be more soon. Promise!

An Ode to Housework

The laundry waits, the dishes sit.
The dust - it just won't quit.

The kitchen table doubles as
A shelf; there's too much clutter!

And though the baby sleeps like a log,
Mommy's gonna sit and blog.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Food Inspiration, Please

Dear People of the Internetz,

We need some inspiration. Liam has tried several foods and has liked each one. Our freezer is stocked with purees (see list below), but it is a limited menu. There are some dry lentils languishing in the cupboard which will get cooked up, and some dried apricots as well. But we need YOUR HELP in thinking of new and yummy foods to try.

Now, keep in mind that he is 6 (and a half) months old, and we should probably start introducing a little bit of texture besides "pureed." And meat. He should probably start eating a little meat, right?

We have several baby food books with good ideas, but what are your suggestions? Ten baby hugs and ten baby kisses to the most inspiring commenter... On your mark, get set, comment!

Sweet Potatoes
Bananas
Avocado
Pumpkin
Pears
Apples
Peas
Peaches
Squash
-
Rice Cereal
Oatmeal Cereal
Barley Cereal
-
Great Northern Beans

Monday, October 4, 2010

Six-Month Check-Up... and Mommy-(Deer)-Milk

Liam had his six-month check-up today. (NOW - WITH MORE SHOTS!) Here are the official numbers:

Weight: 19 lbs - 11 oz (75.90%)
Head: 45 cm (75%)
Length: 27 in (50.75%)

This weekend Mommy saw three deer outside, down at the turn in the creek. Two were smaller, maybe this year's fawns? As Mommy watched, the two little ones walked over to Mama-Deer and started nursing. Liam is not the only one who likes Mommy-Milk! That was pretty durn cool.

And some more pictures:

Gumming an apple slice.


So happy in his bouncy seat!

Fun-time with Daddy!