All in the Family

Well last weekend was a big family weekend as Erin, Luke, Rylie and Jack came from Dallas to meet Pace for the first time. We spent a lot of time out in Clinton with my family and all the cousins got to spend some quality time together. It was a lot of fun, very loud, and always exciting with two infants and two VERY helpful older cousins! We had a great time as Landrum loves her cousins!

Caving In

So I have been very determined that I did not want to start Landrum on rice cereal until around 6 months. I don't want her to grow up so fast, and I know that she is getting every bit of nutrient she needs by nursing. Breastmilk is so amazingly efficient in providing for infants needs that they can technically go their entire first year just nursing.. I was not going to be that hardcore, but I really wanted to wait until 6 months to start anything. That would be in compliance with what the American Pediatric people say anyway... so all that said, we started rice cereal this week and no she is not 6 months yet! I know - I caved. She is 4 1/2 months and I am trying rice cereal for one week. Why you ask? Because I am so tired! She was doing GREAT about sleeping through the night - 9pm-5am at least... but suddenly it all came to a crashing halt! She was getting up 3-4 times a night.. not always to eat but sometimes she was hungry. I have just started working three mornings a week and it is extra hard to be out the door at 7:45 when you have been up 3-4 times during the night! So at many peoples suggestion, including our pediatrician, we are giving rice cereal a try. So the first night was Saturday night. Did it work you ask? absolutely not! She was still up during the night and ate at 4 a.m. So I am going to stick with it for a week and see what it does -if it doesn't help with the sleeping we are going to put the spoons, bowls and cereal away for another month or so. If it does start helping, great. She does seem to really like it though - which is helpful. We don't really have to force it down her throat. I think the only real problem is we don't get it in her mouth fast enough. She gets this from her father. When Jared was a baby his parents could not feed him fast enough so they had to get what is called an infant feeder which is basically a big syringe so they could shoot the food in his mouth... i don't think we will have to go that far with baby girl! Here are a few shots from her first experience with 'solid' food.

Crying it Out

So we are in that phase - crying it out. It is absolutely horrid and I can't stand it. Friday night we let her cry it out - she started at 3:22 and went solid until 4:45 and then was silent for 15 minutes.. we sighed in relief.. until 5 a.m. when she cranked up again. She is not really crying as much as just yelling. It is very difficult and I really prayed asking the Lord to just let her sleep.. and last night He answered! She slept straight 10 to 5. Thank you! And of course - it was an ideal to get back into that routine since today was my first real day at work. I was very pleased. Of course I still woke up several times during the night just because I am used to that.

On another note - Landrum did much better today at MMO than she did last week, yeah! Another answered prayer.

I've Got the Fever

Olympic Fever - I love the Olympics.. I was totally into that cheesy countdown to 8/8/08 - looking forward to the opening ceremonies, wanting to have some sort of party, surprised when I would find out that people actually had other plans on Friday night the 8th. I, along with my parents who were equally eager to catch every moment of spectacular-ness sat captivated for 3+ hours as we watched the amazing show China put on - and then my favorite part - when every nation walks in -it is all so exciting.. so.. well so 'Olympic'. And somehow, I don't know how really, all the great stuff is coming on during primetime - how fortunate for us! And if I happen to fall asleep (as I seem to easily these days) I can watch the recap in the morning.. so great! What a great two weeks this will be!

On another note - I am going back to work tomorrow.. well sort of. I am going to start working at Mothers Morning Out at our church two days a week and doing Bible Study Childcare one other day.. so in all I will be at 'work' three mornings a week and Landrum will go to her own class. We start tomorrow and I am a little nervous about how this is all going to work out. I mean timing feedings just right so hopefully she won't get hungry while she is there since she hates bottles (I am sending one with her don't worry), and me being apart from her for three hours - three days a week. I hope she does not try anything new while she is away from me!

Welcome Pace Walker!

Jayme's sister Bethany and her husband David welcomed their firstborn, a son, on Friday morning at 10 a.m. A healthy 9lb boy, William "Pace" Walker. He is an absolutely beautiful baby and we are so excited for this addition to our family! Her parents now have 4 grandchildren and we have three neices and nephews! We are so blessed to extend our family! Welcome Pace!

We Survived The Neshoba County Fair!

Neshoba County Fair 2008

Well, we successfully survived 9 of the summer's hottest days at the Neshoba County Fair last week. For those of you readers who are unfamiliar with this phenomenon, check out the link to the right. It was hot, crowded, dusty, and oh so much fun! We really had such a great time sitting on the porch, visiting friends, eating delicious food, and playing games. Landrum did great and thinks she likes the fair! In fact, she has had a hard time adjusting back to our normal life at home! There was so much for her to look at and take in while she was at the fair, she couldn't get enough of it. When the temperatures crept over the 100 mark we stuck her bumbo in a bucket of cold water so she could relax! We had a good week, but now I feel like I need another vacation to recover from the Fair!

Cooling Off!

Relaxing with daddy

My favorite spot - right in front of the fan!

New Adventures

Landrum has been up to all sorts of new things lately, most importantly - growing. While we were in Dallas she went through a growth spurt - since then she has been packing on the pounds! Jared weighed her last week and we think she is at least 13 lbs! What a big girl! She is also sitting in her bumbo now, reading books in her chair, and doing plenty of tummy time! It is hard to believe our baby is growing so fast! In fact, last Sunday I sent her to the nursery at church for the first time - she did GREAT, my stomach hurt the entire service!! I sent her back again today - she really enjoys Sunday School!

On another note we are headed to the Neshoba County Fair next week. We will be there for an entire week. Landrum is really geared up for her first fair! More to come on those adventures!

A Series of Firsts

Well Landrum has made her first big trip - we took her to Dallas for the fourth of July - another first, her first Independence Day! She did great in the car although the usual 6 hour trip turned into an 8 hour trip; lots of stops along the way! She had a wonderful time playing with her cousins, Jack and Rylie and got to do lots of fun things. She even went for her first swim! We went to a pool party on the fourth and baby girl took a few dips in the pool - she loved it! She also went to her first fireworks show - thankfully we were far enough away that they weren't too noisy, and I think she slept through most of it anyway! However, the evening was not without excitement. While we were in the parking lot waiting for the shuttle to take us to the fireworks extravaganza baby girl had a serious blow out - I mean shooting down her leg onto the pavement - we had to act fast. There was thankfully a city truck nearby and we threw down the tailgate whipped out her mat and sprang into action!
The plan was for baby and I to drive home on Wednesday by ourselves, Jared flew home Saturday; however, thankfully Erin and the kids decided to come along for the ride! I was so thankful for the company and the extra hands with baby!

What has Landrum been up to lately?

Well Landrum has been awfully busy over the past few weeks - she is doing all sorts of new tricks as you can see in the pictures below! We recently borrowed a play gym mat from some friends and she loves "being in the gym"! She laughs and giggles the whole time as she stares at herself in the little mirror! When she is not chillin in the gym she is lifting weights with her handy rattle! We love to make her hold on to it - but instead of shaking it and hearing the sound she usually ends up hitting herself in the head with it!

I have also recently discovered the wonders of Craigslist here in Jackson - I mean I have heard all about Craigslist and others using it - but I have never experienced the greatness.. Where else can you trade a miniature horse for a 1990 Buick LeSabre!? Last week we bought a jogging stroller on Craigslist for Landrum to cruise in. She is a little tiny as she sits in the big ol' stroller but she will grow into it!

Two weeks ago, Landrum spent some quality time with her cousin, Rylie - they love playing together and Rylie can really make Landrum smile!

Finally - while Landrum is doing so much better about sleeping longer at night - there are still those mornings when both Mom and Baby have been up a few too many times in the night and are having to catch up on some extra sleep. This is what Jared caught us doing the other day!

The Love of a Father

As I was having some quiet time on the porch this morning in the rocking chair with Landrum beside me in her bouncy seat, I thought about the love we have for our children and how that resembles the love God has for us. I couldn't help but wonder if he ever wishes we could truly know how much he loves us just like I wish Landrum knew how much I love her. I try to express that to her, but she's not able to fully comprehend the emotions I feel when I express my love to her. As we get older we love our parents more and more, but never quite like we love our children. As I get older, my love for my heavenly Father grows deeper, but it will never match the love he has for me, his child. I was challenged by Proverbs 25:2 where it says that, "it is the glory of God to conceal things..." and I think it shows a reciprocating love on our part to seek those hidden things out. We may never find them, whatever they may be, but the journey will bring us closer to realizing the love he so freely gives us.

Glory Glory Hallelujah

Last night as we were putting Landrum down for the night and I prayed that God would help her to sleep through the night. Knowing this was a big request as she had only been sleeping in 4 hour stretches, I knew Jayme needed it just as bad if not more than Landrum did. And hot dang, if she didn't make it from 10pm til 5am. She stirred around at 3 and again at 4, but she hung in there and gave Jayme the best sleep she's had in two months. We had heard other friends say how their babies were sleeping through the night at 8 weeks and we were at 7 weeks 6 days thinking, "We won't get to that point anytime soon." Thank you Jesus. Don't think I won't be praying the same prayer tonight hoping it wasn't a one time occurence.

A Day at the Spa

Landrum has taken to her bath times as if she was at the day spa. Unfortunately she has a tendency to get a little too comfy in the warm water and thus has a hard time controlling her bowels. This is not fun for parents or baby because we feel the need to change out her water and she hates getting out of the water, no matter how dirty it is. Being the smart parents we are, we thought we would trick her and let her sit in some warm water in the sink for a few seconds and do her business and then transfer her to the bath. She knew something was up and did not want to have any part in this trickery. Not only would she not do her thing in the sink, but she wouldn't even sit in it. She arched her back so much that only her feet were in the water. I don't know what the difference was, but she obviously did.

Landrum's Many Poses

Here are some recent shots of our little girl - she is growing so fast! We had to go to the pediatrician last week due to some stomach trouble she is having - turns out it is reflux :( sad for her! While there they weighed her and she was 9 lbs - yeah!!! She is changing so much and smiles a lot now - she also talks to us all the time! It is so fun to watch her change and develop!

Family Picture

We have just entered into the second month of Landrum's life - it is hard to believe that she is already a month old - time is flying by! She is growing much taller and is definitely getting some of those much desired chubby legs!! She is obviously eating well and starting to get the hang of sleeping at night. In fact, we moved her out of her bassinet and into her own bed in her own room - such a big girl! She has made several outings including 2 trips to church, the grocery store, a few restaurants, nana and poppy's house and most recently to her uncle David's law school graduation. She is a baby on the go!

Here is a recent family picture. Enjoy!

Landrum's Favorite Things

Today is Landrum's 3 week birthday - right now we are celebrating weekly birthdays. She is growing and doing all the things she should be doing - eating, sleeping, and going to the bathroom! She has a few favorite things; her Daddy - he has a special ability to calm her down when she gets worked up; her Bouncy Seat - a wonderful vibrating, singing seat that can put her to sleep in a flash; her Bath - she has had three full fledged baths in her tub and each time she likes it more and more; her Friends - she recently met the 4 Speed children who were quite taken with Baby Landrum! Here are some pictures of her favorite things!

More Pics...

Here are a few more pics of Landrum and her family.


Her Mimi


Her Nanna


Her Uncle Jesse


Her namesake - Jean Landrum Yates


Her Poppy


Her Pop


Her Uncle, Aunt and Cousins

Meet Baby Landrum!

After much anticipation and excitement (and a scare or two) Landrum Elizabeth was born on April 9th at 11:29am. She is healthy and well and so is mama. Jayme was doing great during labor, but Landrum wasn't and as Jayme continued contracting, Landrum's cord continued to tighten around her neck. Her heart rate was dropping too significantly and even though Jayme was at 7cm, Landrum couldn't wait. The doctors and nurses briskly took Jayme to surgery and had little Landrum out within minutes. It was more than a little traumatic since we didn't know what was going on, but we trusted the doctors, and knew that God was in control. We have been in good care at the hospital for 3 days now and are headed home tomorrow. We are excited to begin our family time together with this great blessing and miracle of life. It's hard to not give God thanks when He displays His power through His creation in a magnificent and beautiful way.