365 days will change your life

As the seasons begin to change (at least as the title of the season changes) I'm reflecting on the last season of our life in the Stewart household:

Summer:

a nice time away from work to spend with my sweet baby.  I spent a lot of time thinking about how the summer before I had no idea how my life was going to change.  It was much easier to get out of the house and run to Walmart, the grocery store, go shopping, etc.  But it has all been worth it.  Brayden's wild hair - his sweet smile - his sweet words - all of it I would never change for anything. 

We took Brayden on his first birthday to have pictures made.  Check them out - they are adorable!!! 

Yes, we're training him right!!!  My beautiful Georgia baby!!!

One of my favorites!!!!

Down, set, hut!!!!

"Daaaaaaaa!"

B is for Brayden!

Silly boy!

So many blessings! 

It's amazing how life changes in 365 days.

Unfortunately, summer is over and we're back to the grind...school is back in full swing.  (7 weeks worth)  My students are wonderful - for the most part - and I'm enjoying my job.  Everyone has their days where they have a bad day.  This year I have far fewer bad days.  That is a blessing.

Hope you have a great day!!!

Yeah....It's been a while!

A lot has definitely happened since I posted last.  I would definitely say that my blog is not something that I make a priority, but it's definitely fun.  Roxanne makes it fun for me to do because her's is so much fun to read!!!  Her blog posts more pictures of my sweet baby than I post myself. haha

So, here's a little catch up:

Hanging out with Grandaddy (my daddy) on May 8

Brayden's Baby Dedication (Mother's Day 2010)

Yes, he slept through pretty much the entire thing....then was startled when everyone started clapping at the end of the dedication. 

Walking with Mommy & Daddy on May 25:

Sunday, August 22

 

I will put more up later....He's growing so much!!!

Hope you're having a great day!!!

Never Too Old to want my Daddy....

We have definitely had one of THOSE weeks.  The Stewart household has been insane to say the least...

This past weekend was our last week of this season's Upward, then Sunday night we had a Low Country Boil at church.  In the words of Rachael Ray "YUMM-O!" It was definitely delicious.  We got home and began settling in for the night and as I was giving Brayden is last bottle of the night it began to come back up....not just the bottle, but what seemed to be everything he ate that day.  It was coming out of his nose.  Needless to say I was terrified--especially when he started screaming.  I mean, really, I would scream too if this was happening to me! Daniel came back to our bedroom to find a horrible mess on our bed.  We had to clean Brayden up, clean me up and our bed.  We just decided to blow up the air mattress to sleep on because we only have 1 set of queen sheets.  I was terrified to go to sleep Sunday night because this has never happened before.  Brayden is a reflux/spit-up baby, but this was TOTALLY different.

Monday, I went on to work because Becky is so good to me and is so willing to watch Brayden--even when he's sick.  She probably should have said no condering the rest of the weeks events.....haha!  That night we had our Upward Awards Ceremony/Program that everyone really seemed to enjoy! On my way to the church (Brayden still with Becky), I called Brayden's pediatrician to see what we needed to do because we thought he had a virus of some sort.  And that he had.  We decided on pedialyte for a day or so until he seemed better.  Afterwards, Daniel, another man whose an integral part of our church body & Upward, and myself took the three guests who came to perform at the program out to eat  at Applebee's.  I called to check on Brayden and low and behold Becky's sweet little girl got it....I went to Walmart and got both of us pedialyte.  So, I called in to take Tuesday off of work.  I wanted to be with my sweet baby and I didn't want Brayden to give it to any more of the Schulze household. 

Then.....2am hit.  And it hit me hard.  I knew I didn't feel well, but I thought maybe I could sleep it off.  There was no sleeping that off at all.  I was sick from 2am until 9am or so.  It doesn't matter how old I get I still want my daddy when I'm sick.  Daniel had to stay home from work to take care of me and Brayden on Tuesday.  I slept all day, so he didn't have that much to do for me, but still.  Then, on top of that, Daniel's dad came to visit us all the way from Virginia with a friend & her little boy.  I slept the majority of the time they were here.  I felt horrible that I missed that time with them.  Then it happened to Brayden....AGAIN.  Poor, poor baby.  He just couldn't keep it down.  And he screamed and screamed.  My heart hurt so badly for him.

Wednesday, I went to work a little weaker than normal but we were all planning on all trying to get back into our routine.  Texting back and forth with Becky Wednesday morning I learned that her oldest had gotten sick.  So I asked Daniel to stay home with Brayden til I could get there.  I came home at lunch so he could get his work done.  On my way home, I found out Andy (Becky's husband, our pastor) was sick.  REALLY?  My gosh this is spreading so fast!!!!  Thank goodness Becky nor Daniel have gotten it yet.  I pray they don't!!!!!!

Today, I sit here at home again with my sweet baby.  We are struggling to get him to drink his milk or even pedialyte for that matter.  We are inching back in slowly with the milk, but it is making me nervous that he slaps it away every time he needs to drink it.  I don't want him to end up in the hospital.  Please pray that he will get his appetite back!!!  Those who know my baby knows he has an appetite and loves to eat!!!  

Yet, Brayden smiles through his pain and for that I am thankful.....it's a sweet reminder that even though I put Christ through the pain on the cross, he still loves me and will smile on me with  his grace & mercy. 

I am truly blessed.

P.S. -- I am getting something positive out of being sick, though!!!  I have lost 5 pounds in 2 days!!!  I'm only 2 pounds away from my pre-pregnancy weight!!!!!!!!! 

Music, Snowflakes & Tummy Aches

With hopes of school cancellations, we ventured out as a family to hear the Sons of Jubal sing at FBC Milledgeville.  It was absolutely incredible.  I know that kind of music is not everyone's cup of tea, so to speak, but going to recitals and concerts while Daniel attended TFC I have a deeper understanding and greater appreciation for the music.  There is something about hearing a men's choir lifting praises to Christ.  Daniel originally signed up to be a part of the Sons of Jubal, but lots of things happened around here that kept him from being an active participant.  He eventually sent his notebook back.  We stuck around afterwards and talked to several of the men (some he knew).  The director voiced a statement that the Lord had laid on his heart during the performance.  Something to the effect of when times get hard we tend to stay away from what we need the most.  After last night, Daniel is "resigning."  :)

We came home and I eagerly watched the news with hopes of having a snow day.  I didn't get the full snow day, but I did get to leave school early. 

Around 4:30 the snow started coming down harder and sticking.  Brayden and I were on the couch taking a nap and I woke up to the most beautiful picture outside the window. 

A little while later our back porch looked like this...

When Daniel got home from the church, we went outside for Brayden's 1st snow!!!

He was bundled up wearing Uncle Josh's hoodie (his head is too big for his own), a sleeper, a fleece jacket, and a humongous fleece blanket that my coteacher gave me for Christmas.

We didn't stay out too long because he already has a snotty nose.  Maybe we will go out tomorrow again.  No Upward this weekend because of the weather, so we are looking forward to getting "snowed in."  Nana and Papa John (Daniel's mom and stepdad) are coming to spend time with Brayden tomorrow.  Maybe I can get some cleaning done while they're here!?!

After "playing in the snow" we came in and got supper going and had a good steak dinner!  Brayden soon has his dinner....

Then had play time....he wanted mommy's phone.

 

So he got mommy's phone.

 

Then he started eating mommy's phone.

So mommy, took away the phone....but it wasn't too long before he had this face....

...the face I love so much my heart melts every time I see it!

Soon he will know more about mommy's phone than mommy knows about her phone!

Unfortunately, my steak has not settled well with me.  Daniel and Josh have braved the snow, and probably ice by now, to go get me some medicine.  Brayden feel asleep and Daniel placed on the floor like this....

 Warm by the fire.

He's such a good Daddy!!!

Thank the Good Lord!!!!

After threats of being kicked off of blog-world, I figure I might ought to put some thoughts down.  haha!

There has been so much going on since my last post (yes, back in November-so sorry!).  There was Christmas, New Years, all of January....geez I don't think I ever stop to think about how fast time has gone by except when I look at my sweet baby.  I never TRULY understood what people meant by "time flies" until Brayden entered the world on July 31st, 2009. 

He is now 6 1/2 months old and last night I think I faced one of the most traumatic feelings a mom can feel:

Fear of your baby being hurt by your own mistake.

We went over to our friends' (Dennis & Rena) house after church to watch the Super Bowl and Brayden was asleep when we got there.  So, I took him out of his carrier and put him on their guest bed surrounded by pillows for protection.  Yeah....how about maybe 30 - 45 minutes later we hear crying and both Rena and I went to check on the boys (her's was sleeping too) and Brayden was on the floor!!!  He was on his belly looking up crying.  I was so scared and in panic mode I didn't even cry.  I picked him up and held him tight and was trying not to be tense.  I'm sure it scared him, but praise God he did not have anything more than a small knot on his head.  Rena called her sister who is a pediatric nurse at Scottish Rite in Atlanta and she reassured me that everything would be ok.  I wanted to take him to get him checked out, but she told me what to watch for to make sure he was ok.  No vomitting/no unconciousness was a good sign!

I cannot thank the Lord enough for keeping my baby safe!!!   I have prayed numerous times today saying "THANK YOU!"  Every time I think about it I am reminded.  I am thankful for the maternal instinct that God gave women.  We are naturally protective of the people we love the most.  More than anything...I want my husband and son to be protected.

Rena & Roxanne - I also cannot thank you enough for the comfort you gave me last night. 

Rena told me that she's heard people say if your baby doesn't fall off the bed before he/she is 1, then its supposively "bad luck."  When I went to school today and shared my traumatic evening, several of them said the same thing.  So, if I did believe in superstition....milestone passed--rather early I'd say.  Some of them laughed at me for taking it so seriously, but I cannot help it....I'm a first-time mom and I don't want ANYTHING to hurt my precious baby. 

Needless to say, Brayden will NEVER be left on a bed with or without pillows until he's a toddler with posts on his bed to prevent him from falling off! 

I would upload pictures, but I don't have the camera nearby.  I promise it will not be TWO months before I blog again.