Wow, I’m not sure where to begin – you turned 6mo old yesterday and your Daddy and I agreed to both write you a letter – telling you all about your first 6mo of life, how amazingly you have changed ours and what exactly you mean to us…

First, I have to tell you, you definitely had a BIG DAY yesterday – you went for your 6mo check up – you are now 20lb 4oz, and 28.5″ tall – you are 90th% in weight and OFF THE CHARTS in height!!! Dr says you’ll probably be an early walker – since you already LOVE to hold on to our fingers and walk all around the house – you get mad if we go to make you sit down – all you want to do is stand and/or walk! Doc also says you’re your teeth were really close to coming in. You got 3 immunization shots yesterday too – first shot you did not even flinch – your 2nd cousin Marc was with us – he snapped a picture just as they were stabbing it into you (and I do mean STAB), 2nd and 3rd shot you started crying, but as soon as I picked you up – you didn’t cry another tear and was even smiling as we were leaving – I think Marc was more traumatized than you were. (Ha Ha – he loves you and is spending the whole summer with us, just to help take care of you while I start back to work.) Then we went straight to airport to pick up Gramma PatPat – she gets in back seat with you and says hi and puts her finger in your mouth and what do you have – YOUR FIRST TOOTH!!!! I didn’t believe her, until we then went to walk around at the Grand Opening of the new Ikea store here in Atlanta and low and behold – I put my finger in your mouth – YOU HAD A TOOTH!!!! I got chills – it’s soo exciting!!!  I called your Mammy and Pap and let them know – Mammy went nuts screaming and hollering with excitement – Daddy didn’t know yet – he was on a job site at work and unable to talk – but I wish you could have seen his face later that evening when he felt it – you’d of thought he got 100 new video games (he likes video games A LOT – but he beats them all the time so quickly – he’s always wanting to get new ones – but hasn’t gotten NOT ONE new one since you were born)!!!! After walking through Ikea (the place is HUGE it took 3hrs!!!) we headed out towards Babies-R-Us to get your pictures taken for first time – Daddy wanted to be part of the event, so we drove you around for a while and you took a nap until Daddy was able to get off of work. The pictures are ADORABLE!! So, like I said – you had a VERY BIG DAY yesterday. Marc took pictures all day long to post on your website from your big day.

I think yesterday shows just a tiny fraction of how you have changed our life. From the second you were born – when Daddy screamed louder than me – you would have thought he pushed you out!!! You did not cry then either – you were wide awake, and alert and stayed that way for 3hrs – only making a small fuss when they were cleaning you up – was kind of scary at first though, because we didn’t hear you crying and thought something was wrong. Gramma PatPat was in the delivery room with us – she had tears in her eyes and could not believe how wide-awake you were. I had to have 3 epidurals though – the first two, for some reason, only worked on left side of my body – was scary feeling – only feeling pain on one side – then the 3rd epidural they gave me was actually during active labor – and you were born shortly after – you literally shot out – you came out head up and you were supposed to stop at your shoulders so the dr could suction you out – but you didn’t stop – you came out quick – dr jumped and you reached the end of your cord – hahaha – it was truly amazing!!! I was really wore out after it all – lost a lot of blood and borderline anemic for a good month afterwards – but that didn’t stop me from taking care of you and working hard at breastfeeding (that’s not easy!!!!). Good thing Gramma PatPat was around – she stayed with us for two weeks keeping your Daddy and I well fed and in clean clothes and clean apartment. Oh yea, you came home to your own bedroom in a 3b/2b apartment and you met your “sister”, Mommy’s black lab dog, named Licorice – it was an apartment, but it was pretty big. Speaking of Licorice, she didn’t take too kindly of you right off, because 3 days after you got home, she had to go in for surgery on her knee – so we were not allowed to play with her or get her too excited – we think she blamed that on you – but she’s taking to you pretty well now, though she still gets very jealous when Daddy’s playing with you and not her – so he’s doing his best to “spread the love”.

Your Mammy, Pap, and cousin Steven were in town for a visit the day after you got home from hospital, my good friend Kenny also stopped in for a visit that first weekend too (he’s the one that bought you your first tux – you took your pics with Easter bunny in it). Then Uncle Kevin and Karen came to visit, they joined you on your first trip to the park. All along you rarely cried – even when hungry, waking up, sleepy or needing a diaper change – you’d kind of holler out. You slept in our room for about the first week or two in bassinette – then you moved directly to your crib in your own room and you love it! It’s been cute watching you in your crib, I can tell it’s your crib – you know every inch of it now, you know every “friend” (random stuffed animals from friends and family – one being a very soft and cuddly black lab doggie that we got you) in it too – rather than crying when you’d wake up – you’d coo and aww with your friends in your crib – Daddy and I listening the whole time through the baby monitor or sneaking in and watching you from other side of room – careful not to disturb your conversations with your friends. Oh and you LOVED your mobile that Uncle Rick and Aunt Vivian got for you – you wore the batteries out in during the first two months!! Your first month was topped off with your first road trip – we drove 4hours to Tazewell, TN so all Daddy’s family could meet you – you were soo good – I honestly do not think you cried once the whole weekend – a few people asked jokingly if we gave you any drugs to keep you so calm – I hereby can say we did not give you anything – just your temperament – you sit back and are just so chill – taking everything in – we worry sometimes though that you are saving it all up or taking notes on stuff that you plan on holding against us later. The evening ride home from Daddy’s Aunt’s house – you were soo tired – you passed out in your car seat – and we sat there for a good 30min, just Daddy and I, listening to you snore.

Your second month, well – we started looking at possibly buying a new house and went looking at about 14 different houses – wouldn’t you know – the first one we looked at, we fell in love with and now own – you have your very own room, a play room and a HUGE YARD (2.5acres) to play in!!! When you can walk, of course! We spent the month getting to know you – taking TONS of pictures, keeping everyone updated on your progress via your very own website – we’ve gotten everyone spoiled though – if we don’t make any updates for a few days – we start getting nasty phone calls and emails from all our friends and family!!! You tried your first popsicle this month – it was soo cute – we don’t know if you loved the taste or if you just liked the cold on your lips and gums – but your tongue was moving on it – then Daddy took it away and you got mad!!! First time we saw you actually get mad – don’t worry – we got pictures of it!!! You love your swing – you take many naps in it – during the day you do not like to sleep in your crib – but you’ll sleep like a baby in your swing – at night you sleep in your crib – not sure how you know the difference, but you do – it’s amazing – your like a real person already – with likes and dislikes!!! Ahaha – and we invested in a nice rocker/glider – that was our gift to ourselves – we all LOVE IT!!! You like to be rocked if not in swing – and you just love being any part of what’s going on. You also started going to daycare this month – at 6wks we found a day care and started taking you just 2 half days a week – I was very very worried about you going to daycare and especially having to start it when I went back to work – I wanted to know who was taking care of you and know they’d treat you right – and that you would like it too – so you go every week – we got to know your caregivers and schedules and more likes and dislikes – you get to see other babies your age – though like always, you’re the quiet happy one – you rarely ever cry – and you just stare at the others when they do. I think it was easier for you than us to go to daycare – Daddy wouldn’t go with to drop you off the first day – he couldn’t do it – so I did it alone and cried the whole way home…

Your 3rd month, you got your first real cold – it was after your 1st round of immunizations – you were all stuffed up and high fever and then you even threw up every bottle in a 24hr span – we ended up in emergency room when your temp got too high at one point – but sent home with instructions to just keep you cool and hydrated as much as possible with pedialyte. We also got a humidifier for you – and had it going non stop in your rooms – the walls and windows were sweating. Your daddy and I would take turns sitting in your room with you rocking and comforting you – you still didn’t cry or fuss – you just couldn’t breathe very well – especially when lying down – one night you even slept in your swing all night with humidifier at your feet. Good thing we got free long distance, because we both wore out the phone lines calling our parents for advice on how to best comfort you. We wanted so badly to just make it go away – it wasn’t fun seeing you suffer. It was a long weekend – but you pulled through. You went and saw the Easter Bunny for first time – wearing your tux, we got pictures!! Oh yea, you also saw your first snow – if you can call it that here in Atlanta, GA – it was really a heavy dusting – on March 1, 2005 – don’t worry – we got pictures of that too!!!

Your 4th month was another busy one – you started getting more and more personality – giggling and laughing at anything we do. This is the only month that we do not have TONS of pictures of you – cuz this is also the month we moved into our first home. Pap came into town and helped us move (we wore him out – I think we got a few pictures of him passed out asleep on the couch as it was sitting next to the moving truck). You got a swing from Gramma PatPat – you LOVE IT – she brags (almost daily I think) about how she got such a great bargain for it - $5 on eBay!!! You have your own room and get to take all your baths in a really gorgeous claw foot bath tub – it’s another area I can tell is all yours – you know every inch of it too and LOVE the water – I think bath time is your favorite time of day – we have to make you get out when your toes start wrinkling!! We feed you formula – but we’re probably not as strict as we should be with regards to people food – we got a few strange looks one day when we were out for pizza and handed you the crust to knaw on – you LOVED IT too!! Daddy couldn’t wait to get you on the tractor mowing the grass – it’s cute, I make him wear the baby carrier with you in it – so he has both hands free – already you are jumping and moving and wanting to do your own thing! (again, don’t worry – we got pictures!!)

Your 5th month – busier still!!! You went to your first professional baseball game, May7th 2005 – Braves vs Astros, Braves won – Daddy got the tickets free from work. Oh yea – in case you do not know – Daddy is a phone guy – works on all the back end stuff for big phone switches – currently he works for Rollins/Orkin (yes, the Orkin Man – bug company) – however, he did just turn in his resignation there on Tuesday (day before your 6mo bday) and has accepted a position at autotrader.com – a Cox Communications subsidiary – he’s VERY excited and cant wait to get back getting his hands on stuff. This month mommy and daddy also did the unthinkable – we went on a vacation without you!!! Your Gramma PatPat came into town and watched you for 10days while we went on a trip to Alaska – we didn’t have much of a choice – we were supposed to go last year – but then we found out we were pregnant with you – and had to postpone – we could not postpone it any longer – use it or lose it – we wanted to take you, but knew the 8hr plane rides to get there – would be just a bit too much for you – we thought and talked about you constantly while gone – we even talked TO YOU at least once a day and many times twice a day!! When we got back – we were sooo ecstatic to realize – you hadn’t forgotten who we were!!! You and I then got on plane with Gramma PatPat down to South Florida – you had met all of Daddy’s family and friends, but hadn’t gotten chance to meet mine yet and I wanted to take advantage of chance to do it before I went back to work full time. So your first plane ride was on May 25 2005 from Atlanta to Fort Lauderdale – you were so cute on the plane – you looked out the window the whole time everyone was boarding – watching everything – then you were out like a light, before we even took off. On the way home, you did the same – but this time you watched the takeoff too – then were out like a light again – and woke up for landing – this after flirting with the young girl sitting next to us. I say young – but she was probably in her early 20s. In Florida – you met all the family – went to your 2nd cousin Tristan’s (Marc’s sister) High School graduation dinner, went to the beach for the first time on May 28 2005 – first you went on the swing set (your first time on big swings) at the beach, then got your feet wet in the ocean at Pompano Beach pier – it was middle of day and very VERY hot out – so your uncle and I just let you get feet wet and take pictures and then headed home to get you out of the sun. We went back to the beach with Gramma and Tristan later in the week, with plans to go swimming in the ocean, but crazy Florida weather – a big storm came through and it was way too rough – so we walked along the pier and got lots of pictures – you were more ready for a nap though – so getting you to crack a smile for pictures, wasn’t happening. On May30th we drove from East coast of Florida to west coast (mommy got pulled over and ticketed on the way there on alligator alley) – to visit a friend of mommy’s – Lisa. She used to live next door to mommy and worked with Gramma for several years – she had a pool – so you went swimming for the first time – and you were a natural – you were splashing and kicking the whole time!! By the end of our visit to Florida I was getting grumpy – I missed your Daddy badly – he took advantage a 3day weekend and went to see Mammy and Pap in Tazewell and to go fishing with his friend Bill. We talked to him every day – and by the end of our “seperation” we were all ready to get back together… Daddy picked us up at the airport – we got to baggage claim to see Daddy holding a dozen balloons for us!!!

Your 6th month, well, what more can I say than it’s been another busy one – you’ve now mastered the army crawl and sitting up. You had your first bonfire and s’more. We go swimming pretty regularly at the “rich people’s pool” (we’ll save that story for another time). Your Mammy and Pap came to visit – Mammy even took you around the yard on the 4wheeler – I was a nervous wreck!!! You now fit in the hiking pack – we went to take you on your first hike last week – but it started raining pretty heavily on the way there (actually it started raining afer about 20-30min of us driving around trying to find the trail) – so we have that to look forward to in the near future. You got all your swim gear now – hat, hippo float, spitting frogs, water shoes, speedo hat… You have your own baby pool – which you being soo long – it’s much like a bath tub for you – not much swimming. You and Daddy went and caught up with Pap at a truck stop nearby as he was going through town and you got to do a safety check on his 18wheeler – and you got to eat at your first truck stop, needless to say – they don’t have highchairs – so you gladly sat in the middle of the table – center of attention.

Center of attention sums it up – everything we do, we do with you in mind or along for the ride – you mean the world to us, to me. You are absolutely gorgeous – we are so blessed to have such a healthy, smart, fine young man. Your Daddy and I, well, we’re big kids ourselves – heck, we’ve already bought a rope ladder for you to use from the 2nd floor to first floor when you get bigger. That being said, you are teaching us a lot – you are soo forgiving. You’ve taught us a lot about not sweating the small stuff, work is what we have to do in order to pay the bills, it’s not our life, and patience truly is a virtue. My love for you is so deep – so extreme – so scary – I’d leap tall buildings for you (hah – I’m sure lots would like to see that – but even if it took me a lifetime – I would).

My little man, I can not wait to watch you grow and experience everything this world has to offer to it’s absolute fullest – and I’m here to say – I’ll do all I can to help you do just that – but I’ll also be there to catch you when you fall,  teach you how to respect everyone and everything for who and what they are – their likes, their differences, their beauty. I’ll teach you that laughter and willingness to look at something from other perspectives will get you far in life and give you the advantage.

All my love,
Mommy

6 months old, 28 inches tall, sitting up on his own, a tooth coming through, army crawling everywhere, drinking from sippy cups, and a smile that the ladies melt over!!  That’s my BOY!!
J.T.,

Wow!  You are growing up so fast now.  It didn’t seem that long ago that you were lump in a blanket, now, geesh, we are never going to have nice stuff because I do believe you will break everything.  It seems a lifetime ago but it was only a year that your Mommy and I were planning on having a new addition to our family.  What an addition you have been.  I never knew that I could love another person, who didn’t even know who I was, as much as I love you.  Your Mommy and I never knew how much we have missed out on until you came along.  Knowing what we know now, we should have done this long ago.  I look forward to getting up in the morning just to see your smile.  To hear you laugh and giggle, make my heart flitter.  You are my son and that makes me feel so proud.  To know that this beautiful little person will always be a part of my life, makes me burst with joy.  You are a very special boy.

Know this, never bring shame on your name and never forget the ancestors that sacrificed for you to be in the here and now.  Milk life to that last drop. Live your life, don’t waste it.  Don’t look for someone else to bear your load, take that mantle of responsibility on yourself and stand on your own two feet.  Know that love is something to be given as well as recieved.  Find beauty and joy in the simple things.  Don’t be to hard on yourself but don’t congratulate yourself to much either.  Experience all that life has to offer.  Never pass up an opportunity without contemplating it first.  Whenever an opportunity is presented and accepted, take full advantage of it.  Set goals and try to obtain them.  Remember, life isn’t about being at the top of the heap, it’s about the trip climbing up.  Learn lifes lessons and then practice that knowledge.  Respect your elders because by God’s grace, you will be one yourself someday.  Laugh.

I will be there with you to guide you and help you on your way through this life.  Through the bad and the good, you can count on me.  I love you , my son.  I know you love me as well.  I know that love is the only thing to stand up to the test of time. Your mother and I will stand behind you through whatever. Don’t be afraid.  Now, stand-up and put one foot forward and open your eyes to this big, beautiful world.

Wow, this has been one busy week! We have been non-stop all week, it has worn us all down. Except, JT, he never stops.

Monday thru Friday has been one rollercoaster hill after another. JT is more mobile now. Last week he was rolling, now, well lets just say, he has his army crawl down to an art. Little man is developing more and more now. Friday night after coming home from Pizza night, we laid JT on the floor and he crawled all the way across the room! He is very curious about everything. He tries to get a hold of everything. It is a constant job trying to keep him out of things.

Kim also has her momments as well. Case in point, Friday morning going to work, Kim makes me a peanut butter sandwich. I told her I wasn’t in the mood for peanut butter but she made it anyway. Kim usually drinks a big cup of Earl Gray tea. It is usually steaming hot. On this particular morning, she spills it all over her lap not long after we left the house. So we had to turn around and go back, so that she can change her pants. Now back to the peanut butter sandwich. I had on my ipod headphones listening to James Patterson’s London Bridges. Pretty good book about FBI and terrorist stuff. I figure why not go ahead and eat the sandwich. I ain’t going to get anything else to eat this morning. As I am eating my sandwich, Kim starts making “mmmm ggoooodddd” sounds. I turn to her to say “It is a good sandwich” but I scream it because of my headphones. Kim gets this startled look and reaches over and tears my sandwich out of my hand and throws it out the window. She also takes her own sandwich and throws it out the window. Then stops talking to me. I am in complete shock at what just happened. I turn back to driving and listening to my book. To end a long story, she apologized for throwing my sandwich out the window. She realized after the fact that I had not intentionally screamed at her but being the proud punk she is she wouldn’t let that be known just yet. I informed her that if I had done that to her we would have drove straight to the divorce lawyer right then. That’s just a taste of how our weeks been and why I haven’t blogged any at all. Just to much going on but I will catch up on it coming this week. I see a big drop in my activities at work.

Why is it if you rub your finger across the part of the ear at the top that is connected to your head that it smells the same as the smell from your belly button?  These are the questions that perplex me and keep me awake late unto the night….

But enough about my night life, let’s talk about Kim!!  Man, I feel very fortunate to have her in my life.  She has given me more direction now than I have ever had before and instilled a can-do attitude that has suprised myself and most of my friends.  She and I have a good, solid relationship built on love and respect.  Even though sometimes what keeps us from killing each other is that love.  Literally!  Kim makes sure that I have what I need and she always puts me in my place when I get the “big head”.  She is my confidant and she is my lover.  She is my best friend and the biggest bully I have ever had but together we are rock solid.  To my best friend, I love you for the rest of our lives but never forget to flush the toliet when your through and turn on the fan.

Mailed via US Postal Service on June 16th, 2005…

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to request a court hearing or, being that I am located out-of-state, a trial by written declaration on the above mentioned traffic citation number issued on May 30, 2005. The following is a detailed explanation of the event:

I was the driver in the cited vehicle, with my mother in the passenger seat and my five month old son in baby carrier in back seat of car on driver’s side. We were traveling west on Alligator Alley and abiding all traffic laws. At the time of incident, I was in the left hand passing lane, about to pass the 4th car in a line of 4 cars while my car was on cruise control, doing the speed limit, preparing to move back over into the right hand lane after passing.

Ahead of us, pulled off on both sides of the road were two other cars being cited by marked police cars that had their lights on. All of a sudden I look in my rear view mirror to see a car come up extremely quick behind me, acting extremely aggressive and “pushing” me to move out of the way – like I said, I could not move into right lane because I was in process of passing a car. I then gesture to the car behind me that I was not speeding up any more to move over because of the police cars already in front of me and was not risking a speeding ticket, I did this by gesturing with my hand and pointing to the cop cars ahead. The car behind me then immediately moves up closer to me aggressively, even going into left emergency lane and moving even closer.

At this point I am extremely worried the person is going to either hit myself (injuring my five month old Son in back seat on driver’s side) or is going to attempt to pass me in the left emergency lane, keep in mind, I see there is a cop car in the left emergency lane ahead with someone pulled over. I proceed to tap lightly on my breaks to try to warn the car behind me – the car then gets behind, speeds up close again and then backs off and turns on siren/lights – little to my knowledge, this was an unmarked police car in the midst of trying to chase down another speeder.

I proceed to calmly get over to right lane and pull off into emergency lane. Before I even have a chance to finish rolling down my window the officer is standing at the driver’s door and yells to me “out of the car NOW!!” I oblige and proceed to back of car – extremely scared that I am about to be thrown on top of car and frisked in front of my mother and son. The officer then begins to yell and scream at me, “Do you not know about road rage? Did you not see the maroon car with tinted windows pass you five cars going 90 miles an hour? Did you not see me coming up behind you at 120miles an hour? Slamming on your breaks while lolly-gagging in the left hand land!!! That just bought you a ticket!!! Give me your license!!!”.
I then give him my license and he then proceeds to berate me, “GEORGIA – FIGURES!! Is there a convention around here or something? Don’t you all know about road rage??!?!” All this time I stand in front of the officer very respectfully and do not answer back for fear of repercussion.

The officer then goes to passenger side door and yells at my mom – “where are you from!?!” My mom proceeds to tell him she has been a resident of South Florida for 50years and is a critical care nurse at North Broward Hospital. The officer screams more, “then you know about the road rage around here – maybe you need to teach your daughter something”. The officer then seems to calm down a bit and tells me to get back in the car – he then issues the above citation.

Had I known this was an officer (via emergency warning lights or sirens) I would have been much more aggressive about moving out of the way or forcing my way into pack of cars in right lane. I honestly do not believe I was in the wrong or aggressive in any way. I am a law abiding citizen with no prior arrests or convictions and absolutely no intentions of obstructing justice. Given circumstances, the safety of my child, mother and self was top of mind, not to mention the concern for what I thought, from my point of view, was the possibility of this car hitting an officer/motorists that were pulled off in the left-hand emergency lane.

I would appreciate consideration in providing the opportunity to contest the validity of this citation via this written declaration. Please let me know if there’s anything I need to do or present to you (witnesses, etc). Below is all of my current contact information. I thank you very much, in advance, for your time.

Sincerely,
Me

i heard him through the baby monitor this morning. i know he hasn’t made the connection that that’s me, but he at least knows the syllables…

Ma-MaH! Ma-MaH! i have to say, it sounded pretty sweet to the ears - i think he knows he was making different noises, cuz i went and got him from crib immediately and began making the noises and he gave me a knowing grin.

Of course, now that we’re taking full advantage of our new “pool resource” we’ve gone three days in a row… so that means we needed to get a beach bag dug out from the closet, some swim shoes, a hat, a new suit, and a float - well, in this case, we got two - because i was just too overwhelmed with all the options and could not decide which to get. So we got him a speedo very safe one - it’s great - we like it alot, he stands it. the other, is a big colorful hippo float, that has leg holes, of course, he likes that one much better, but it’s not nearly as safe. So, looks like we’ll have to play with two floats, the hippo - he had daddy holding him in the water and chasing it all over - he just wants to get close enough to naw on an ear!

Since going to the pool, he’s fallen asleep on the way home and since it’s already bed time by the time we’ve gotten home - we put him straight to bed - this eve - he had to get a bath whether he liked it or not - and of course - he liked it - daddy gave him a bath - i could hear the two of them all the way in the kitchen while i was making dinner - giggling and laughing - i went back just to see it, then realized it was a moment and fun for them alone to enjoy - so i let them be… i enjoyed listening from afar - JT’s got a good Daddy.

Well, big news, JT is taking steps.  We hold his fingers and he takes his own steps.  He wasn’t doing this yesterday, what’s the deal?  I get all excited like a giddy girl when I see him taking them.  I guess it has to do with his superior genetic power he has recieved from the Siler side or it could be the raw stubborn hard headedness from the Newman side…
Or how I like to think of it as a combination of the best of both sides.  I am hoping to go swimming today in the big, rich people pool.  I just hope hillbilly’s don’t stick out to much there.  Getting back to JT walking that is perfect timing for me to set up a donation process for JT’s first bike.  It is called a like-a-bike and here is the link to check it out www.likeabikeusa.com :

We will take nickels, dimes, quarters and dollars of any denomination for this fund raiser.  Don’t forget we are still taking donations for “Feed JT Fund”.  He is a big boy who eats a lot and his size and appetite is growing fast.

We will start taking donations for “JT Needs Wheels” fund.  It is for when he is sixteen but we will be taking donations in the next few months.  If we reach our goal then I will drive and look after his vehicle until he is old enough to drive it. (wink, wink)

We look forward to hearing from our contributors!!!

JT has now been swimming in a big pool 2x’s - he LOVES IT!!! He also has a little baby blow up pool that his gramma bought him while we were in Alaska - he loves it too - he loves baths - he just loves water. Barry has yet to see him in a big pool cuz his first time was in florida and then yesterday afternoon…

Marc and I did some 007 tactics yesterday and were able to get the gate code for the pool area of a nearby HUGE housing community - its supposed to be for their community only - but who could resist - they have 2 HUGE POOLS - a BIG slide that definitely can rival a few at 6flags water park, a mushroom water fall, beach walkin area, lap pool, kiddie pool, etc… so you get my point - who could resist all of this???  Marc really gets all the credit, i dropped him off and he played the bewildered new kid, who had no idea how to get in… it worked, a lady saw him looking lost and confused and gave him the code to the gate. Later in the afternoon, Marc, JT and Myself were swimming in luxury!!

We spent about 45min in the pool (we went in late LATE afternoon - so sun was not directly above and lots of shadey areas in the pool) - JT was close to beyond the raisin-wrinkle stage. He’s a lot of fun, splashes around, kicks, i even let go of him and had him just holding on to one arm and he started realizing that if his legs were straight below him he need to begin kicking about to get them back up again… i’m sure it’s not cuz he knows that yet - but he’s learning!!   We were really hoping Barry could get home from work in time to join us - but a huge wreck on i75 that closed all lanes for a bit kept him in gridlock and not getting home until 8pm last night. Sooo… our goal is to get home early enough today to head over there again - WITH DADDY!!!

Actually, i’m glad we now have a pool to go to - i do not want JT to all of a sudden become afraid of water, i want him to learn how to swim asap and in turn, respect water and its dangers. However, it is hard to be around so many folks our age and kids JT’s age and still do our best to not interact too much so the conversation doesn’t steer too close to “So, what streeet do you live on?”

I think something is wrong.  I think something is wrong with JT….. he refuses to learn to crawl.  Not that he lays around like a lump.  Maybe there is something wrong in his brain or maybe, just maybe he skips that whole crawling thing.  I mean he wants to stand up, he try’s to take steps and he likes to work on things. But maybe he is just a superboy!!!! Fine by me! Don’t have to haul his chunky butt no more…

Maybe this is just the trend for his life.  Maybe he will start talking in long strands of sylables before he is a year old.  Maybe he will be potty trained before 2.  Maybe he will start school when he is 3.  Maybe he will skip a grade at 6.  Maybe he will graduate high school when he is 12.  Maybe he will get his degree when he is 15.  Maybe he makes his first million dollars at 20.  Maybe, just maybe, I am nuts.  Long shot on that last one but I may be just a bit off my rocker.  He is a special boy to me and his mother and maybe a few choice people out there but JT’s development is common and normal.  No matter how I wish that he was a super baby with super skills.  But I can still wish!

Well, Mammy and Pap (Phyllis & Steve) came down to visit JT this weekend and found out how charmed we are with such a special boy.  They also found out how much life and vitality we have too…

Between JT jumping and Mom & Daddy wrestling, I believe they were ready to go home at the end of the weekend.  Kim’s Cousin, Marc, is staying with us but he is sick as a dog right now.  Actually, I came to the realization that we are boring and are about as interesting as pile of rocks.  Our only saving grace is a little boy that has the curiosity to give our life flavor.  His curiosity will something very hard to contain in the next few months.  I am just prepared to lose everything I own to his curious mind.   I forsee JT having a run in with some of our nicer stuff and a screw driver.