Some Fun Random Pictures

Poppa and Hunter at the horse races in Ruidoso. Mr. H didn't really care too much!

This has to be one of my favorite pictures of my boys ever! Amazing!

I set him down for a second while I went to the bathroom. This is how I found him. Such a sleepy head!

Again, he's sleeping. After church at Lujan's with our friends. He fell dead asleep in his high chair. That was a first for our normally super busy kiddo!

No real explanation for this one. Poppa put him in the back of his truck. I just think it's funny!

Hope you enjoyed my random pics as much as I have. I just thought I would share and catch you up on my sweet boy's 8th month of life.

I can't believe he will be 9 months tomorrow! Where has the time gone?!

Thank you for your concern and prayers for our little guy. He is feeling much better.

What a Big Boy

Hunter has promoted from baby to a big boy over night! Today was Mr. H's first day of "school" (PDO). He gets to go to school every Wednesday with Momma and play with his new friends all day long! He did well today. His note said that he was happy. I tried not to sneak downstairs and check on him too much. I did take snacks for the teachers. I'm not above bribing them to love my kiddo! :) I loved being able to go downstairs at lunch, grab him up, feed him, then show him off to my friends. I love any time I get to show my kid off!

Daddy met us at school for Hunter's first day of school. He went straight to his teacher and didn't look back. He had an easier time than Momma! I have to admit that I cried a little bit after dropping him off. This is such a big thing in my little guys life. I am so thankful that God has put me in a place that I can have my sunshine in the same building and I can see him during the day. I am also so thankful that Hunter's Granna loves keeping him the rest of the week. We really couldn't ask for a better situation! Blessed all around.

I went in at lunch and Mr. H was sitting on the floor with Miss Amber while the other babies were sleeping. He woke up a little early for his nap. I like to think he was just so excited to see me he couldn't sleep! Ha! After school, he came to me and grabbed my face and gave me big old slobber kisses (my favorite kind!) What a welcome. Hunter was pooped! He fell asleep on the way home from school and went to bed very easily. I would say our first day at school was a success!

Hunter and Miss Amber playing.
(I didn't want to come in and get a closer shot in case he got upset!)

A Long Hard Night

First, I am thankful for long weekends, mountain rains, and time with my family.

That being said, the Holloways had a little bit of a rough weekend. Saturday morning, Mr. H woke up about 3am feeling a little warm. We were in Ruidoso having a really nice long weekend, but sleeping in a pack n' play is not nearly like sleeping in a nice crib. Momma crawled in the bed in Hunter's room and we "slept" until about 7 with Mr. H on Momma's chest. Hunter had a bit of a fever. We all figured he was teething so we called the pediatrician and started medicating the poor baby. He did pretty good until Saturday night. About bed time, Hunt's fever went back up. When we took his temperature (the fun way) we realized that 103.5 is not teething. He was way more cuddly than usual. Okay, maybe cuddly isn't the word to describe it. He was just lethargic. He is normally such a busy busy boy. All he wanted to do was lay on Daddy's chest. Not normal in any way shape or form! Momma went into worry-mode. We called our good friend Dr. Happel and woke him up (Thank you Chris!). Momma, Daddy, Hunter, and Granna took a trip to the Ruidoso emergency room. We were the only ones there but it still took way too long to get back. The nurse was very sweet with Hunter (once they realized we were there and waiting). The doctor (from Great Britain and not real easy to understand at midnight!) came in immediately and checked my sick boy. Diagnosis: double ear infection, sore throat, and teething. Not fun for my little guy! He got a big dose of tylenol, followed by a wait. Then a big dose of motrin, followed by another wait. Then he got another big dose of amoxicilan. We then had to wait for his fever to break before they would release us. I got the sweet boy to go to sleep and finally, the sweat came. We left the ER about 2:00am Texas time. What a night!

Thankfully, Hunter is starting to feel better. His fever went back up a little today, but we were in the car driving home. He slept most of the way home and is now sleeping soundly in his bed like a big boy. His temperature is 99.3. Praise the Lord! That number was a big relief for Momma and Daddy. We are glad to be home, safe and sound, with a sweet baby boy on the mend.

There is nothing worse for a Momma's heart than a sick baby.

We Made It!

I've been back at work for a week and Hunter and I are doing fine. I actually did a lot better than I expected. I cried a little before I went back, but once inservice started, I was okay. I think about Mr. H all of the time. I have my digital frame sitting on my desk filled with pictures of my sweet family. If someone walked in during quiet times in my days (which are few and far between) they would think I was crazy talking to the frame on my desk! I just can't help it!

Hunter is doing great with his Granna. We are still working on getting a new schedule going. Naptime has been a struggle. Mr. H doesn't think he needs one, Granna thinks he does. What to do?! I get to go see him at lunch almost everyday which is a joy and blessing.

One day, I walked in after school. Hunter and Granna were playing on the floor. When I said hi to Mr. H, he grinned a big fat grin and put his toy down and came right to me. He pulled up on my leg (so big) and I grabbed him. He gave me a big fat juicy slobber kiss. (He gives the best kisses!) That made my day! He is such a happy kid! We are so blessed.

Thank you for your prayers as I went back to work. I could definitely feel them covering me. I think we'll make it!

My New Favorite

All of my blogs so far have been about my sweet baby boy. This one is not a Hunter blog. Some of you may stop reading now and that is okay and won't hurt my feelings. I would just like to share one of my new favorite things with you. . .

Sheridan's Frozen Custard has won a very special place in my ice cream loving heart. I have discovered the Honey-Nana-Nut Wowiechino, the most delicious of all! It is a frozen coffee drink with honey, bananas, and peanut butter. With each drink, you get a different explosion of flavors in your mouth. It is a very layered dessert. At one sip, you will taste the peanut butter, but wait a second because here comes the bananas, then after another second, the honey pops through. Delicious beyond delicious! I crave these things! Sadly, Jimmy and I are trying to watch what we eat and my Honey-Nana-Nut is not on the menu. We do splurge and treat ourselves occasionally. Thankfully, tonight was one of those nights. My mouth is very happy!

Our Oscar Bob and Dixie have also fallen in love with Sheridan's. They have puppy cones! How cool is that?! Puppy cones are little tiny cones filled with vanilla custard. Our babies loved them! Oscar went crazy over a little ice cream. Just like his momma. We can't wait for Mr. H to have his first ice cream. (Okay, I had to get a Hunter mention in the blog, I couldn't help it!)

A Busy Week for Mr. H

Since last Friday (8/08), Hunter:

1. Cut 2 teeth. It hasn't been too bad. He's been quite a trooper! We still haven't actually seen the teeth because Mr. Stubborn won't open his mouth, but we can definitely feel them.

2. Begun crawling on his knees. No more "army crawl" for this kid!

3. Started "cruising" the furniture. He doesn't move too quickly, but he gets where he wants to go. He gets stuck at corners and ends of furniture. He hasn't figured out how to master turns yet!

Yeah for Hunter!

Momma is so happy that these 3 major milestones came in her last week home with the kid. Hunt has promised that he won't take his first steps without me. I made him promise! Ha!!

Back to work on Monday.

Hunter at 7 Months

Hunter is getting so big! I am so thankful that I have gotten to spend this summer with him watching him grow and learn and change! What a huge blessing. Sadly, school starts in about 2 weeks so my time with him has entered the countdown. *Sigh*

Here's what's been happening since the last post:

Hunter has found his voice. He loves to scream at the top of his lungs. I truly think most of the stages he has gone through are precious. . . this one, not so much! He does love to scream though.

Mr. H has learned how to pull up. He is standing up all over the place. His balance isn't too bad! Yesterday, while I was getting dressed, he pulled up on his vibrating chair (which is just collecting toys in our room since he is too busy to be strapped down anymore!). While standing there, he decided he would try to climb in. With mom right behind him, Mr. Independent had both feet off the ground. Once he realized he wasn't quite ready for this big move, Momma grabbed him up and gave him a big hug. I can't believe how big he is!!


He can also sit up from his tummy. What a surprise to have your kid scooting around on the floor playing and you look away for a second and the next thing you know he is sitting on his little tiny hiney. I am just astonished at his growth and achievements recently. I know they are little things, but big in our world.

Little Man has gotten his knees under him a few times as he attempts to crawl, but it is still mostly army-style. His Sunday School teachers have mentioned several times how mobile he has become! It seems like in a matter of weeks he went from being the littlest in the class to being in the middle and getting to play on the floor with his friends. He is a busy busy bee!

Hunter is now eating all of his green and yellow veggies and some fruits (we are still introducing a few of these). He can be a little bit of a picky eater, but we are praying that it passes.

I truly think being a momma is the best job in the entire world. I eat up this kid every day. I live for his laughs and slobbery, open-mouth kisses. I love sitting on the floor watching him play and tickling him. I cherish bath time and bedtime. Thankfully, God has given me a job so that I can be home with him as much as possible. Being a teacher is a great thing! I just wish summer would last a little longer.