Winding down

When I was first introduced to her, sometime during the day on December 30th, I never dreamed we would be this close. She became a reliable companion. She was always there to talk to me during the middle of the night. We have laughed together. Well, at least people have laughed at me when we were together. We have cried together. And I guess that isn't exactly correct either. I was the one doing the crying due to the extreme pain she has caused over the past year. Wait a minute, maybe we aren't as good of friends as I thought... Hmmm?!? Anyway, she went to Orlando. To Disney World. We have spent time hanging out in nearly every room of this house. We have spent time together in the homes of others, for that matter. We have been together in the car, parked and in motion. I have been with her EVERY SINGLE DAY for almost a year. At first, it was 8-12 times a day. Then there were a few weeks that we only hung out 2-3 times a day. That ended when I went off on the deep end, mentally speaking, and she was there to pick up the pieces and help me carry on...10-12 times a day...again. Who is this "mystery" friend I am speaking of? I am pretty sure you know her name...

Medela.

My daily companion is about to get the boot!!!!! The Malone Dairy is about to close shop, people!!! No more shields. No more shield connectors. No more tubing. No more yellow valves. No more white membranes. No more stylish black shoulder bag. No more car adapter or wall plug. No more Easy Expressions hands-free garment. No more cleaning. No more sterilizing bags. It will all be packed away!

One would think I should be THRILLED to say "goodbye". In a way, I am. But there is a tiny, little part of me that doesn't want the Malone Dairy to close shop. Maybe it is the fact that there was a dairy farm in the family past. I have vivid memories of my uncle and cousins running a dairy in Mississippi. Or maybe it is the knowledge that people actually get paid to donate milk to milk banks! Are you telling me I can make $500 a week to pump?!?! I mean, that isn't THAT bad of a job... The truth is this: it is so stinking hard to accept another chapter of my baby's life is over. Bottom line. He doesn't "need" me anymore. He will be just fine to have a sippy cup full of Daisy's milk. Why is it so hard to let my "baby" go? I am not sure. But soon enough, I will.

At my "prime", I was getting 32 ounces a day. I have now cut back to 2x/day and get about 20 ounces or so. I suppose I should work my way down to once a week at this point. And then...I will have to pack Medela away and bid her adieu. I am trying to take it slowly to ease my discomfort in the end. I have heard Sudafed and ace bandages will help. I have 'been there and done that" with cabbage in the past. Emotionally, I can't go there again. So we will just have to see how it goes. Wish me luck!!!

Because I want to win...

"I blogged it"

Mondays with Crosby

At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 50 weeks old!!! That is right, fifty. A five, followed by a zero. That tells me I only have 2 weeks before my tiny baby turns one year old!!! I am in complete denial. Yes, I have been getting birthday presents. I have been getting Christmas presents. I have Christmas cards ready to be addressed and mailed. I have birthday invitations picked out. But in my mind, I still have plenty of time to get all of this done. Plenty... It may have just hit me that I don't!!

We have been busy the past week but I don't have much to show for it! And I think I promised better pictures this week. What I meant to say was I will have better pictures NEXT week! I am such a slacker...

On Friday, we made a special trip to Lonnie Young Shoes to have Crosby fit for his first pair of walkers!! He was measured and wears a 3.5 E...aka WIDE!!! He has fat little feet!!!

These shoes were made for walkin' (literally)...


And that's just what they'll do...

The little guy may not be walking by himself, but we have caught him standing without holding on. He gets a big cheesy grin on his face, flexes those knees a few times and then plops on his bottom. It is so cute. I think he is proud of himself and a little scared at the same time! He even did it in the bathtub tonight. I am going to have to get that picture this NEXT week...

I hate to cut this short, but someone just woke up crying. Usually doesn't happen around here. When it does, it catches us off guard. So I put him in our bed to cuddle with is dad while I finish this post and spend time with Medela. We are down to 2 a days! Soon to be none a days... I am hoping to get that post up for you sometime during this NEXT week, Jill. Even though she won't read it for a few months! :)

And I have absolutely loved hearing from those who participated in "Roll Call"!!! I still have a few people I need to say "hello" to and plan to do that this NEXT week too!! :)

Mondays with Crosby

At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 49 weeks old!!! Heavens to Betsy...we are almost to 50/52!!! Somebody pinch me and tell my I am dreaming. This tiny, barely premature, but premature nonetheless baby cannot be approaching 52/52!!! I mean seriously. He is going to be 18 soon. And you think I am exaggerating. But I am not. This year has be the equivalent to a blink of the eye. I can't take this. You know there is a major problem when your eyes start watering simply because the head of "Baby Jesus" in the Christ Church Christmas Musical looks just like Crosby's did almost a year ago. I think I am going to be a sloppy mess come December 29th...

Just a warning...this might be the roughest batch of pictures I have put together on a Monday. Please forgive me. Thank goodness Moriah saved the day by taking several cute shots of Crosby at the Otter Creek Family Christmas Breakfast!!

It is almost silly that we even went. It started at 9:00am, which is right when Crosby is ready to take his first nap. Then there is the fact that Blake had to work so it was just the two of us. The building isn't really stroller friendly so that meant me lugging the not so little one and his bags from floor to floor. But I didn't want him to miss out soooo off we went. Let me say it is hard to eat yourself and feed a 49/52 week old babe who is sitting in your lap. We were at the end of the serving line so we only had about 15 minutes to inhale our food. To make matters worse, Crosby managed to grab his cup of water and dump it all over his lap and mine! We spent a portion of our 15 minutes trying to clean up our mess! After eating, we went upstairs to have our picture with Santa. Due to the fact that we were 2 of the last people in our group to leave breakfast, we were also at the end of the line for Santa! He was wearing down by the time we made to front of the line. The poor baby looks cute but exhausted!!!
We headed down to make a Christmas ornament after pictures. There was no way I could sit Mr. Busy Body down to put the snowman together. I had to grab a kit and make it once we got home. There was a live Nativity right outside the door, which was just adorable. There was an alpaca, a sheep, a donkey, a goat...and a few other things that I don't really recall. Of course I wanted picture of him with them. But you can't exactly sit him on a donkey's back and tell him to be still. I was too scared to sit him by the animals because they just might have found him tasty!!! Thanks to Laura, we got one standing near the donkey! What can you do??? I tried!

The Children's Ministry did an amazing job organizing a wonderful day of fun and fellowship for the OC families. I just hope Blake can go next year!!!!!

Then there was church on Sunday. We have Birthday Sunday on the first Sunday of every month. All the children who were born that month have their name called and get to go on stage. Crosby Fox was the first one called. I tried not to be "that parent" but I gave in and was "that parent". I tried to take a picture quickly, focusing on one of the guys in the youth group rather than my husband and son! At least you get the idea...

We tried for a family picture after church. That was another fail! I must have turned the camera on manual and the setting were clearly all off! Just squint and it looks less blurry...

On a very different note...I am thrilled to say the logs that have been sitting in our fireplace since we bought the house have been burned!!!!

I am pumped that we finally had our chimney sweeped and can actually use the fireplace! Crosby went to bed too early to enjoy the fire. But he will get to experience it soon! VERY CAREFULLY and with LOTS of supervision, of course!!!

Let me just say how much I have LOVED reading all the comments from the last post!! I haven't seen that many posts since the day he was born. I am pretty sure there should have been more. Unless my parents and in-laws and lots of the now 46 faith followers have tuned us out! Even the starters of the blog who I know have google reader slacked on me!! I won't list any names like Ashlee was kind enough to do for me. There will be no"wall of shame", even though there should be. I will just have to say a big "Bah Humbug" to all the non participants!!! If you feel guilty, it is never to late... ;)

Rachel...I didn't know you were a follower! How fun is that?!? I keep up with you on Facebook, of course!

N.K.L....you didn't have the "L" for the original post. I am thrilled to FINALLY add that to the end of your name!! Much love to the newlyweds from the Malones!!!!

Creepy female GradStudent Stalker from the North...I am totally flattered and am not creeped out in any way!

Mrs. Pevadiva...I am so glad you get to keep up with me. Now...if you would just update your blog, I could keep up with you!!! Novel idea!!! Thank goodness your MIL and SIL are on

Facebook and update me with pictures of E and K all the time. :) But you have a full plate AND you commented so you get an award...of some sort...

Heather...any friend of Shellie (who may or may not have participated ;)) is precious to me! Thank you for praying for us and for that sweet boy of hers!

Because I'm the mom...I am confused!! You babysat Kelly?? I am thinking you look our age?! Oh, you must clarify this for me...

Lizzie...you get most random HANDS DOWN!!! I am completely flattered and sort of feel like a celebrity...sort of. I mean, I had a follower (who may or may not have participated ;))stop me at at game. Now someone across the ocean! Let me just say I would LOVE to cross paths with you one of these years.

Emily...Haley is a blast from the past for sure! So glad you said hello! Please share any tips/ideas/tricks you have. I think it is so helpful to hear what others with kiddos Crosby's age are doing! It has been a while since I checked on little Grey. I was shocked to see how big he is now! What a miracle that little boy is!!! Oh, and I don't plan on going anywhere any time soon! I am not afraid of Faithful Followers. I don't really consider anyone a stalker. It is all in jest! :)

Angie...every time I am late, like tonight, I think of you!! Sorry...

Sonja...thank you for bringing up my weakness, causing me to purchase a Snicker bar and eat it that very day...

Thanks for having a little fun with me. I have always wondered who really takes the time to read up on our little family. It is an honor to know that so many friends and even total strangers have followed us, prayed for us and loved us over the past 2 years! What a blessing to "know" who you are!

Roll Call

While visiting with Sarah earlier today, part of our conversation was about this post. I actually wrote the following on 11.20.08 and never published it. This is one of a handful of posts I have saved as a draft that have never been published. I have no clue why I never posted them. But, for one reason or another, I didn't. So, I thought it would be fun to dig through the archives, find this lost post and finally share it. I thought this would be fun to do last year. I still think it will be fun so I am gonna take the plunge and do it...

"There is a phenomenon in Blogland that we all talk about. Most of us even admit we do it. Are you starting to feel a bit flushed? If you are, then you are probably guilty. BLOG STALKING!!! Oh yea...you know what I am talking about!! And please know I am as guilty of stalking as the next person. As a matter of fact, I subscribe to 28 blogs on Google reader. Of those 28, I personally know 11 of the "blog authors." The rest are complete strangers, who live in unknown locations. I have commented on 4 of the strangers blogs and have even referred you to one. (And I don't even think I have commented on that one. I thought about asking them if it was okay to reference them but chickened out for whatever reason?!??!?!) There are probably 10 or more blogs I stalk regularly but have refrained from subscribing to them in an attempt to make myself feel like less of a stalker.

I never even thought about this idea until I read this. Hilarious!! I felt the guilt so I had to break down and leave my first comment that day. What freedom I have felt to comment away on their blog since that post! Yet, I still don't comment on most others. Why must we follow in silence? Why am I afraid to let someone know I follow their story? Why do I follow the blogs of people I don't even know?

I won't name any names, but A.W. and H.M. are two self-admitted stalkers of my blog and I have emails to prove it!!! There are a few others I have heard of through the grapevine! Soooo, I was just wondering if there are any more faithful stalkers...I mean followers out there that are brave enough to admit it! I thought it would be fun to dare you to leave a comment! I know there are several people who can't seem to figure out how to leave a comment, N.K. being one of them. Then there are others who finally figure it out...after setting up 3 accounts and nearly cursed ME as if I was to blame!! (R.P.W and no, the "R" does not stand for redneck, but could!!! :) ) Anyway, you have freedom to make your presence known today!"

Okay, there it is! I posted it. Now, all you have to do is comment. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to hear from EVERYBODY who reads this!!! Even if you have posted in the past. Even if you are related. Even if you are my closest friend. Even if you are a complete stranger!!! Hey, you can even make it really fun and tell me how you found my blog and a little tidbit about yourself!! Maybe I will even have a random giveaway...okay...maybe not.

"Stalk no more", I say!!! Fess up and follow freely!!!!!!!!

Gobble Gobble...

On Wednesday, we traveled to Mississippi to visit my dad's sisters for Thanksgiving. We had not been in a few years and it was great to see everyone. And of course it was great to introduce our pride and joy to the rest of the family!!!

This is what happens when Aunt Frances and Go Go get their hands on him...

That would be banana pudding...BEFORE lunch, I might add!!! He was fussy so they decided to feed him sweets! I am fairly confident that was not allowed when I was his age. I probably would have gotten a spanking or something for eating dessert before lunch. They are a bunch of softies now so this kind of stuff happens!!! I suppose this is what grandnephews (? totally making that one up...) do to you!

Riding on Pop Pop's shoulders, trying to keep feverish Crosby smiling...

A few of the Nulls...half of Brian, Uncle Ronnie, Angie, Mia and Meg...

A few of the Lipscombs and Kings... Dad, Mom, Jay, Brady and Blake...not my Blake, Blake King! Didn't want to confuse anyone...

Eating his first Thanksgiving meal...

He looks so big sitting in that chair...

Yummy!!Miss Mia eating her lunch...

Meg wanted to hold Crosby, even though he weighs about as much as she does! :)

Sitting in the rocking chair after his meal. He's looking so big, once again...

We had a great time with lots of great food. Thanks to Aunt Frances for hosting, housing and feeding us!! And we are SOOOOO sorry that Crosby seems to have left a piece of him with you...his cold!!!

Saturday night was spent in Columbia at the Malone's.

Here is Crosby sporting the shirt Lucy just whipped out on Wednesday night. Yep, just whipped it out like it was nooo big deal to make a turkey, with no pattern...

Laughing at Sam...

Cousins. Sam just loooooves Crosby. It pretty much melts my heart...

The Cyrs...Jeremy, Anne Claire and Charlotte...

The Malones...I think you know who we are by now!!! :)

More of The Malones... Sam, Jason, Gid and Kerri...

This one sums it up...

Hilarious but not. Sam was so sad to leave. We looked over to see big ole tears rolling down his cheeks...sweet thing. Mr. Gid missed an earlier nap. Let's just say he was not happy when Jason woke him up from his late nap so they could leave! Jason's face says it all... Cracks me up!

I was mad at myself when I got home from Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday. I was in a photo funk over the holiday. Now I could kick myself for not taking more pictures. I mean it was Crosby's FIRST Thanksgiving for crying out loud. This was no time to be a slacker. Mark my word, I will make up for it at Christmas... Consider yourselves warned!!!!

Mondays With Crosby

At 11:24 am, Crosby Fox turned 48 weeks old!!! Too bad he had an appointment with Dr. P at 11:20!!! On a good note, he has a cold/virus of sorts. Nothing serious but no medicine to help. Just Tylenol if he seems painful. Ears looked great. He didn't get those from me apparently! I hear I had infections all the time. I am thinking Blake did, too!?!? We'll have to talk to Lulu and Perd about that! So,wait, if he didn't get his ears from me...and he didn't get them from Blake...I will assume he got God's ears!! :) They do hear VERY well! I did go ahead and get his first H1N1 vaccine. He will need the second in a month, which should make for a lovely birthday gift! Along with his one year shots. Oh dear...I won't even get started on this "one year" business that I am not even believing...

I was planning to share a few pictures from Thanksgiving...but...I got some really cute ones at Dr. P's!!! Go figure!! Of course, they aren't very crisp. I have yet to decide what to do about my lenses. You know, the one I smashed the last time we went to see Dr. P!!! And I still took my camera. The pictures aren't as crisp and it annoys the heck out of me. But they were remodeling and the new blue walls screamed for a picture with Crosby!!! :)

If you look up close, it appears his "baby blues" are turning to a shade of green, more like his parent's. Both of his parents. It kind of makes me sad because I loved those "baby blues." But let's be honest, his eyes could be red and I would think he was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen!!

After his appointment, it was lunch time and then down to sleep. Boy oh boy did he wake up in the crabbiest of moods!!! So, I decided to give him a few moments with his Praise Baby DVD, Praises and Smile to be exact...

"Enough already!!!!!"

I knew what would get him moving. His Leap Frog stacking toy...

Told you he doesn't want them stacked!!!

Maybe I will post Thanksgiving pics tomorrow, even though it will be December. Technically speaking, I think I missed 3 days in November. I could make up for it. We'll see what happens!!!