My Favorite Things--9 Months

Busy. If there was one word that I could use to describe you this month it would be "busy." You are a ton of fun....

1. You smile for the camera
2. You helped Daddy open his birthday presents. You love wrapping paper. Lookout Christmas!
3. You learned how to really jump in your jumper.....you even jumped yourself to sleep!
4. You can hum while strumming your lower lip.
5. You are learning to chew. You love your puffs.
6. You are learning to carry things when you crawl....I've caught you with your sippee cup in your mouth!
7. You laughed harder than you've ever laughed before when I spashed water on my face.
8. You play with your ear when you're sleepy.
9. You give everybody kisses--me, Mickey, Tigger
10. You know the words hungry, no, and kisses for sure.
11. You laugh when you or anyone else sneezes.
12. You had a melt down when you figured out that we had put a lock on the TV cabinet.
13. You hate it when we close doors.
14.  You "run"  from me as fast as you can when you figure out that the laundry room or office door is open.
15.  One word--SPLASH!
16.  You like to play the "my pash" game.
17.  You growl.
18.  You blow on my tummy, or the couch, or anything you can.
19.  You let go with both hands for just a minute.

Lions and Tigers and BEARS

Oh my! There was a grizzly bear sighting in Wrens, Georgia on October, 31st at approximately 12:30pm. The bear cub was seen and confirmed by approximately 10 people in a residential area.

While there have been a spattering of black bear sightings over the years, this has been the first grizzly seen in this area. Residents are wondering if the bear cub escaped from the circus or the zoo.

The cub appeared to be well fed, but still very hungry. He seemed happy and explored his surroundings without fear. If you see this bear, do not try to feed him. It is thought that his mother might be near and has a severe sweet tooth!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

My Favorite Things--8 Months Old

Everyday you learn something different and show us a different side to your personality.

1. We love the way you crane your neck to look at something--you're so curious!

2. I love your sleepy, squinty look in the mornings.

3. The way you crinkle up your nose.

4. You can point to my nose (when you want)

5. You can play peek-a-boo all by yourself.

6. You play with Hadley.

7. You wave "hey" by sticking your hand up--not by waving your hand up and down.

8. You smile when told "no"

9. You conquered your fear of the hard floor--no heading back now!

10. You smack your lips.

11. You pulled to standing for the first time this month.

12. Suppertime a a restaurant can be a challenge.

13. We love the way your hands slap on the kitchen floor when you're in a hurry to get somewhere.

14. You sing--daah, daaah, dahh, in a high pitched voice

My Favorite Things 7 Months

Every day you grow stronger and learn something new. Your smile can light up any room. We are over half way to your first birthday. I wish we could slow down just a little....

1. You sleep on your hands just like your mama.
2. You blow spit--not bubbles--EVERYWHERE when you make the motorboat noise.
3. You can sit up all by yourself.
4. You can find the tag on almost anything.
5. You have your first tooth! But mama will miss your toothless smile.
6. You like Hadley's toys much better than you like your own.
7. When you get mad, Uncle Seth says you sound like a weedeater.
8. You went to your first football game.
9. You hold your arm out and talk like a muppet.
10. You can crawl pretty good.
11. You ate your first solid food and acted like you've been eating forever.
12. You have started crying for your Mama when she walks out of the room.
13. Sitting up is another weapon in your arsenal for staying awake.
14. You want everything you can't have.
15. You get silly when you're tired.
16. You can say Dah Dah Dah....
17. You think Hadley is funny and fascinating.

Yum!

We started solid foods this past week. I was worried that the pediatrician was going to fuss at me because it Hunter was six and a half months old and we still hadn't started yet.

She said that she would never fuss at someone for bringing her a healthy 18lb 10oz baby who is 27 inches long. She told us to have fun and get to tasting.

Well....we started with the old standard of rice cereal. He loves it. Acts as if he's been eating solid foods for months. Here are a few pictures.

Southern Eagles Fight! Fight! Fight!

Hunter was initiated into the Eagle Nation at the first home game. We tailgated in a shady spot with our good friends Wade and Kelly and their boys. Once we got into the game, it was hot! I had forgotten that even night games can be steamy. Hunter was a trooper, and we almost made it to see the Eagles get their first win of the season.

Rub a Dub

Rub a Dub Dub, no more baby tub. Hunter likes to sit up and splash around now. His favorite bath toy is a plastic cup that of course he tries to drink warm soapy water from.

Sea Shells by the Sea Shore

We went just south of St. Augustine to the beach the first part of August. It was a beautiful and relaxing week. Hunter had a little beach, but he had lots of time with his Papa. We were worried that we would need to bring the balcony and the beach with us to get him to sleep when we got home.

My Favorite Things 6 Months

Hunter the baby no longer exists. The other day a lady stopped me in the store and commented that she loved little boys that really looked like little boys.

This month I love.....

1. The way you sleep with your hiney way up in the air
2. You put your arm around my neck like I'm your buddy (and sometimes you pull my hair like I'm the enemy)
3. You are saying mah mah mah mah
4. Daddy is upset that you are saying mah mah mah mah
5. You chew on EVERYTHING
6. You stick your toungue out and then laugh when I stick mine out
7. You went to the beach for the first time. You loved splashing in the water, and the wind took your breath away.
8. You drank from a cup--not a sippy cup, but mama's cup. You practically took it from me.
9. Your mama bought you first pair of blue jeans
10. We love that "lip"
11. You yell in frustration when you want something but don't quite know how to get to it
12. You have smiling eyes
13. You can be really cuddly when you want to be
14. You will lay your head down on our shoulders and we think that it might be the sweetest thing in the entire world.
15. You are soooo ticklish.
16. I could listen to your laugh all day!
17. You are becoming a little bashful. You will flash a stranger a big smile just before hiding your face.
18. You give me kisses.....grab my face with both hands and open wide.
19. You have a little chuckle...heh! heh!
20. We might as well just name you Jimmy the rag chewer.

Just a teaser!

My little fellow turned 6 months old yesterday. I still have to do a "My favorite things" blog, and I want to get you some beach pictures as well. Things have been so crazy. I finally got the pictures downloaded...so hopefully you'll have more to look at by the end of the week.

Life is good. We are blessed to get to see this little face everyday!

My Favorite Things 5 Months

My friends tell me that I will say that every age is my favorite age....I don't know about that. I wish I could freeze time for a little while. You are sooo much fun!


1. If you're fingers aren't in your mouth, then your toes are.
2. You make noises (or louder noises) to get attention.
3. I love the way you wake up....you flash a BIG smile when you see us.
4. The way you hold my face and talk.
5. The way you "help" me do things--you help me drink my drinks, you help me get you dressed, you help me bathe you.
6. You think it's funny to pull hair.
7. You scoot like an inch worm.
8. You wrinkle your nose when you laugh.
9. You like playing peek-a-boo.
10. You swing your foot when you are sitting or being held.
11. You love looking at things--the red berries in the foyer, out the window, at the fireworks.
12. You love being outside.
13. "And laying a finger aside of his nose" Your index finger goes beside your nose when you suck on your thumb.
14. You stall at bedtime....laughing at me when I sing lullaby.
15. I love it when you really get tickled.
16. I love it when you put your hands together in delight when laughing.

Remember this Nanny??

I can think of another little person who used to like to play in the laundry basket.....

Going to the Pool!

We decided to take Hunter to the pool for the first time during the 4th of July Weekend. He wasn't too thrilled---even though he looked adorable. He didn't know what to think about the biggest, coldest bathtub he had ever seen.

Father's Day!

Father's Day Weekend was a very busy one. Not only was it Father's Day, it was also Seth's and Mema's birthdays. We had a party for Mema's 90th on Saturday morning and a party for Uncle Seth on Saturday night. We did Father's Daddy with Papa Wade and Daddy on Sunday morning. Mama fixed steak and eggs for breakfast. After we got home, we celebrated Father's Day with Granddaddy Roy at supper. Here is a picture of me and Daddy.

My Favorite Things 4 Months

I can't believe that you are four months old! You are sooo much fun!

1. You really are trying to tell us something...we just wish we knew what it was.
2. You love your ball, but you get mad when you can't get it in your mouth.
3. You flop both feet down on the crib when you are trying to wake yourself up.
4. Sounds like you are saying "ma" when you're mad or hungry.
5. You can roll over from back to front now.
6. You take your pash out, but you can't get it back in.
7. You are the only child I know that laughs when you get your nose cleaned.
8. Your hair is coming in blond, and it gets all fuzzy when it is washed.
9. We went to see Mema and she said "mmm-mmm" just like she did when I was a baby.
10. You grab your toes every chance you get, especially when you're naked.

Too Cute Not to Share

Everytime Hunter gets in the high chair, he props his foot up. It cracks us up! In the other picture, I just love his bright eyes. He takes everything in now---doesn't miss a thing!

My Favorite Things--3 Months Old

I can't believe you're already three months old! You grow and change everyday!

1. We love how you fold your hands under your chin as if you are pondering the finer things in life.

2. When you slept through the night the first time, you even woke Daddy up because you were sucking on your hands so hard!

3. We love your Popeye face.

4. Your favorite song is "Head and Shoulders Knees and Toes."

5. You now LOVE to be naked. Hiney to the sky!!

6. You "talk" to us now. You have so much to say. (especially when you're naked)

7. You are a BIG boy...wearing 6 and 9 months sizes.

8. When you smiled at your first toy at Babys R Us, Mama had to buy it...(I am weak).

9. You love the pack and play mobile.

10. You can almost grab your toes.

11. You love that baby in the mirror...he is always smiling at you.

12. I love your curly toes.

13. You rolled over from your stomach to your back.

14. You slept in the crib for the first time.

15. You prop your foot up in the highchair.

Mother's Day!

We had a great first Mother's Day. Brad and Hunter got me the sweetest cards. That evening, we went to Courtney and Matt's for some good food and great time with family.

Cute Stuff

Hunter is definitely growing by leaps and bounds. At his 2 month appointment he was 13 pounds 9 ounces and 23 1/4 inches long. By 11 weeks he is 14 lbs and 5 ounces. He has started sleeping through the night--about 8 hours--which is great. However, I think I'm more tired now. He's found his thumb, and he's talking too.... He is more fun every day.

My Favorite Things--Two Months

How you have grown in two months. Today, I bought you size six months sleepers because your toes won't fit into the 3 months anymore. You are mama's little linebacker. Here are my favorite things from the second month. Note: This month, it is all about the smile....

1. You have made friends with the ceiling fan. You love your mama, but the ceiling fan is your bestest buddy.

2. You smile with your eyes open now.

3. You usually smile with your tongue sticking out.

4. Sunny Sunshine can save a shower!! (Thanks Citabria and Brett!)

5. You are in a great mood most every morning.

6. You will cut your eyes over to us, then show us a big smile.

7. You will read an entire book with me without getting fussy (most of the time)

8. You curl your lip like Elvis.

9. You have found your fists.

10. You kick up a storm the entire time you're awake...starting your motorcycle!

11. You have graduated from the bassinet to the pack n' play. (You could touch both sides of the bassinet at the same time with your arms stretched out.)

12. You make a fist with your thumb tucked into your pointer finger---we'll work on that one when you get a little older!

13. You can't wake up with out streeeetching as tall as you can...arms up legs straight.

14. When Mema held you for the first time, she said you were like a "worm in hot ashes!"

Easter Sunday

We made our first ever road trip on Easter weekend back home. We only stayed one night, but it was a success! We slept in a new place, in a new bed and we still slept for one five hour stretch and one three hour stretch. Hunter is a good baby!

We all gathered at Nanny's house for the annual Easter Egg Hunt on Sunday. Keep in mind, this is not a "typical" egg hunt. All but one of the "hunters" are over the age of 18. It is war....

Hunter will be looking for eggs next year, and I will change from an egg hunter to an egg hider. So you can see how important it was for me to win this year. Over 300 eggs were hidden, and in the end, I was victorious!!! 97 was the magic number. I must say I was proud to show Hunter how it is done. I am confident that the legacy of eggcellence will live on.

Sleep Like a Baby

I've heard that people who say they "sleep like a baby" never had one. While there is some truth to that, I can't totally agree. Babies may not sleep for very long, but I have to say that it might be the most peaceful sleep that I have ever observed.

Whether they drift off effortlessly at the sound of the shower or the dryer or whether they fight sleep to the very end (I have witnessed both!), baby sleep is the ultimate peace--even if it does come with coo's, grunts, and funny faces.

Big Boy

Hunter is now almost two months old. He is really becoming reactive to people's faces. He also likes sitting up like a "big boy." Here is one of him sitting up with my daddy.

The Progression of a Smile

I got out of the house for a little while on Saturday afternoon. While I was away, the boys decided to play. Here are a few pictures Brad got of Hunter smiling---eyes open!!

My favorite things--One Month

Hunter is one month old today. The time has flown by. I can see how parents wake up and suddenly their children are grown. Here are a few of my favorite things from the first month.

1. Your bulldog face

2. The way you grunt and grumble about everything!

3. Your fuzzy little shoulders

4. Your toothless grin that you show us only when you are very sleepy

5. The way you point your index finger, proving you are related to your Nanny

6. The way you say "ahh!!" after you sneeze

7. The way you hate to be naked

8. The at least 50 faces you make every minute in your sleep

9. The sweet coo's that you make in your sleep

10. The way you sleep with your arms straight up above your head

11. The way your bottom lip still quivers like when you were first born

12. The way you get wrinkles in your forehead when your trying really hard to open your eyes.

13. The way you like being submersed in water, but hate being scrubbed down

14. My little crunchy baby

15. The way your head smells

Two Weeks Old Doctor Visit

Hunter went to his two-week-old doctor's appointment last Wednesday, March 4th.

The goal for most babies is to regain their birthweight after leaving the hospital. Hunter was 7lbs13oz when he was born and 7lbs7oz when he left the hospital. So the hope was that he would have regained his five ounces.

Well.....the little piggy weighed 9lbs 3oz. He's a big boy now! He had also grown a whole inch in length and added an inch to his head circumfrence.

He's changing everyday. Here is a picture from his two week "birthday."

Favorite Spot

Hunter is a great baby. He rarely cries unless he's got a tummy ache or he's naked (see previous post). His favorite place to sleep is with his Daddy when he gets home from work.

After Brad went back to work after the first week, he commented that Hunter wouldn't know what his Daddy looked like at all because he slept the whole time. Not to fear though, the little munchkin is more and more awake every day!

Splish Splash

Hunter hates being naked! He hates having his diaper changed and he hated a sponge bath even worse. The good thing is that now we can take tub baths, and that is a LOT better.

The towel picture is from his first sponge bath, and the tub picture is from his first "real" bath!

Birth Announcement

Here's the really pretty birth announcement I emailed out!

Let's Backtrack!

Just to update those who are running a little behind--namely me! I wanted to start this blog a lot sooner, but it's better late than never.

Hunter Bradley Blackmon was born at 2:15pm on Tuesday, Feb 17, 2009 at East Georgia Regional Medical Center in Statesboro. He weighed 7 lbs 13 oz and was 20 inches long. There were many people eagerly waiting in the waiting room for his arrival.

Just like many little one's in the South, he had nicknames before he was born. So if you call him Roy-Roy or Bubba, he's finally here!