Catch up...

(Warning: LONGEST BLOG POST EVER)

So I am going to attempt to catch up for the last 4 months in one post...we'll see how this goes.

• Beach Trip
• Shortly after getting back from the Labor Day retreat we left for a week in Orange Beach, AL. We went with several couples from our church the Suggs, Carmichaels, Jones and Chipmans. We stayed with the Kyzars and their family. It was so much fun to be on vacation with these beloved friends and their crazy kiddos. I have a ton of pics from the trip,but I'll just post a few.



Walking on the beach like a big boy 



Playing in the sand



Going to see the sunrise ;) 



One of the awesome beach pic Erin C. took for us

• Camping-
• We went camping in Wynne, AR the second weekend in October with our good friends the Riders. We had so much fun and the weather was great. BUT it ended with the most traumatic experience of our lives. While the guys were packing up the car and the ladies were fixing lunch. Jedidiah tripped over the grate and fell into the coals of the fire we had burned the night before. He caught himself with his left hand and let out the worst scream I have ever heard. I immediately ran it under cold water and showed it to Joel Rider. He said calmly, go to the ER we will pack up your stuff. Later he said, it was the worst thing he had ever seen. Glad he didn't tell me that at the time. We drove the longest 10 minutes of my life to the ER in Forrest City. Thankfully they got us in immediately and started and IV. They gave Jed Zofran and Morphine for the pain. The ER doctor seemed to think he had 3rd degree burns on some areas of his palm. In his own words he said " I don't really do kids or burns." GREAT So he sent us home with Silvadene to put on his hand and Tylenol #3 for the pain. He then referred us to a burn specialist at Lebonhuer. All I can say, is DO NOT google 3rd degree burns. It will make you have nightmares. I was convinced that Jed would never be able to use his hand again or they would have to cut it off. We prayed that it would only be 2nd degree and the Lord heard and answered our prayer. When we went to the burn surgeon, he said his whole hand was superficial second. He cut off the excess skin and wrapped it with xeroform dressing. We went back in a week and he said we could leave the dressing off. Within 3 weeks it was completely healed. It was amazing. The surgeon said the palms and soles of your feet were the best places to get burned. Who knew? Now you can't even tell which hand was burned...it is amazing how God designed our bodies to withstand stuff like that and heal so quickly. We are so thankful. I have pictures of his hand throughout the experience, but they are a little too gruesome. Here are some pics of the good part though... 



Having fun in the woods



Jedidiah and the Rider kids



Poor baby :(



Three weeks later..almost all better

• Knoxville
• At the end of October, we went to visit Joel's sweet Grandma in Knoxville. We got to see lots of his family while we were there and go to the Knoxville zoo. We had a good time eating gumbo and playing games and watching Jed meet his cousins. It was a great trip and we look forward to going again. 



Ready to road trip



Jedidiah and Aunt Sandy



Hanging with Daddy at the Zoo



Brushing our teeth at Grandma's house

• Thanksgiving
• I don't have any pics from Thanksgiving because I was too busy chasing lil man around. He thoroughly enjoyed being able to eat all the yummy food this year.
• Christmas
• We had a very calm and quiet Christmas back home with the fam in Little Rock. I went down a week before to spend time with my Mom and Joel came down Christmas eve. We went to a Christmas eve service at the church we got married in and then went to see Sherlock Holmes while Mom put Jed to bed. We spent Christmas day at my Mamaws house in Beebe. It was an amazing 60 degrees on Christmas day, so we spent most of the day playing outside, herding Jed in the front yard. It was very restful and worshipful. Remembering Christ who came to die to save us for our sins. Very thankful for Jesus and for the sweet time with my family over the holidays. 



Family pic



Grandad messing with lil man..as usual



Being chased by Uncle Kyle



Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas from the Mintons!!

My baby is ONE!

So I'm a little behind, ok like 4 months behind, but I wanted to put his one year in here so I can print a photo book out of the blog :)

Here are some pics from Jed's first birthday!

The cake and cupcakes I made

The Birthday boy with his daddy 

Opening presents

Eating cake 

Not really sure what to do with it at first

Soon figured it out and demolished it!

We celebrated with my family on August 27th at my parents house. We had a fish fry and the weather was perfect. Jed got clothes and toys and ate lots and lots of cake. We had the party a little early because we always go on the annual Labor Day retreat with the church. Well we did miss it last year, because we were in the hospital having a baby ;) Here are some pics from his actual birthday at the retreat. 

Jed shares a birthday with Pastor Jim 

Mmmm....guess he figured out he like cupcakes.

Swing set Papa Minton got him for his birthday

                       

11 Months

• I am 20lbs and 13oz and 29.5 inches long
• I am wearing 12-18 Month clothes and a size 4 diaper
• My hair is still out of control!
• I now have 7 teeth, 3 on the bottom and 4 on top. I also have some pretty good size bumps where my 1 year molars will appear
• I no longer eat baby food, but only eat table food and prefer to feed my self. I have an obsession with peaches, peanut butter and cheese. I am also trying very hard to eat with a spoon! I pretty much need a bath after every time I eat. 
• 
• I still take 4 bottles of formula a day. Mom and Dad tried to switch me to milk and I hated it and spit it out. I still love juice and water in my sippy cup!
• I take two 1.5-2 hour naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
• I have squeaked out a few "duck"s and "book"s along with my "dog" and "ball" but most of the time I just make crazy noises and sound like a little caveman.
• I know who my "dada" is, but I think mama's name is "nonono" Wonder why?
• I can now clap and point. I am pretty impressed with my own pointer finger and use it quite often. 
• I love music, when it comes one I wave my arms, shake my head, and bounce up and down. 
• I am an expert crawler, but prefer to be up on my feet. I have even taken a few steps on my own!!
• I love to play peek-a-boo and have learned to cover my own face with a blanket, or a book,  or a colander :)
• 
• Almost every night, I get read to, sung to and put down in my own bed. And stay there ALL night. I know 11 months later and my baby sleeps through the night. Ha!
• I also loved to be chased by my Daddy, I always think he's after me and go running, or crawling away giggling!
• I love my mama, my stuffed animals, my books and most of all my pacifier.
• My parents can't believe I'll be ONE soon! Wow time flies when your having FUN!!
• 

10 Months

I can have Coke at 10 months right??

• I am 19lbs and 14oz and 29 inches long
• I am wearing 12 Month clothes and a size 3 diaper
• I have had 4 haircuts
• I have 6 teeth, two on bottom and four on top, my parents are already saving for braces!
• I eat about 3 jars of baby food a day along with whatever my parents give me off the table
• Speaking of table food, I love french fries, ice cream, sweet tea, guacamole, refried beans, pancakes...etc. Pretty much if it's on mom's plate, I'll eat it!
• I still take 4 bottles a day, but can drink from a sippy cup on my own and can drink from a straw. Dad thinks I'm a genius because I can do this :)
• I take two 1.5-2 hour naps a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
• I am still very much a paci addict. I have to sleep with one in my mouth and one in my hand. (and about 4 more in the crib)
• I have graduated from the army crawl (scooting on the floor and dragging one leg) to a traditional crawl alternating with a "Lily Rider" monkey crawl (with one knee and one foot on the floor)
• I prefer pulling up on EVERYTHING and cruising
• I can also climb the stairs (very scary)
• I am never still, unless I'm asleep
• I can say "ball" and "dog" about the right things. These are pretty much my 2 favorite things in the world. 
• I can say mama and dada, but with no reference to my parents. Everything is pretty much dada when I want something
• I can wave bye-bye when I feel like it
• I love playing in the lake and being outside
• Learning to pull up has wrecked my sleep and I no longer sleep through the night. Mom can't stand to hear me cry so I usually end up sleeping with Mom and Dad about 4am every morning. She sleeps with her hand around my ankle, so I won't crawl off the bed :)
• I keep my parents very BUSY!! but they love me SOOO much!!

9 months

It is hard to catch a picture of this little guy because he is EVERYWHERE all the time. It is even harder to think that he is 9 months old! The last few months have flown by and it is getting harder to remember the times when he was content just to lay in my arms all day. Now he wants to crawl all over me and roll everywhere and pull up on everything! 

He is a very busy boy! 

This is Jedidiah eating diced carrots. He has gotten to where he isn't a fan of mushy baby food. He does not want a spoon near his mouth and he only wants to feed himself. He will still eat his yogurt, but other than that it's bananas, corn, carrots, and peas, and oh yeah ice cream! He's a little young to be this picky don't you think? But it hasn't stopped his growth. He is now 19 pounds and 11 ounces. He is also 29 inches long. That is the 75% for height, hope he's tall like his daddy. He's wearing 12 months clothes and has big boy pajamas. I think I tear up every time I Iook in his crib and think about how big he has gotten!

This is my little water baby. He loves the pool, the lake and the tub. Thank goodness because int his family we live on the water. He also loves to be outside, but loves to pull up grass and sticks and put them in his mouth.  

This is Jed at his 9 month check-up. Joel trimmed his bangs becuase his hair was getting out of control! Thankfully it was shot free visit. That probably explains why Jed was all smiles. Speaking of smiles, Jed now has 3 teeth. His 2 bottom teeth have come in and a random snaggle tooth on the upper right side. He is working on getting his 2 front teeth. He was a little late getting them and now they are coming all at once. That will mess a guys sleep up fast. He sleeps 10-11 hours on a good night and will occasionally have a rough night with a few wakings. He is handling it pretty well as long as he has something to gnaw on. He is starting to make different sounds and noises now too. He has finally squeaked out a few mama's, enough to melt my heart. I love this sweet boy and am thankful to the Lord for the blessing he is to Joel and I. He fills us with joy daily.

Uncle Kyle

My little brother enters the real world tomorrow with his first 8-5 job. His endless summer is over...not sure if it has really hit him yet. I can't believe the little kid who drove me crazy when I was little is now a grown man. Now grown-up is another question? But one thing I know for sure is that he loves his family and loves this little guy. We love you Kyle and can't wait to see what is in store for you in this stage of your life!!

Three of my four favorite guys!

Shaggy headed boys!

Houston

Jed and I traveled to Houston for my little cousin Shelby's high school graduation. We had a great time seeing our family and Jed had a ton of new experiences:

• eating lots of table food such as bread, ice cream, corn pudding, & Cherrios 
• falling off the bed 
• swimming in the pool and the lake
• riding in the car for 8 hours (twice)

Here are some pics from our trip:

Shelby, the high school graduate

The Fam with Shelby

Cousins

Playing on the trampoline with Houston and Hannah

Ram, the baby whisperer

As you can see, the trip wore us out. But we had a blast and can't wait to see the Tackett clan again. We love you Shelby and are praying for you as you enter your first year at Oklahoma Christian!!