The big rock rock and cracker

Last weekend when we were in mobile we stopped by the la-z-boy store to look for a chair for stella's nursery. The one best purchase we made for Porter was the small la-z-boy recliner that I used for nursing and still use today for reading books at bedtime. It is super comfortable and just the right size for me. Leather was also a good choice and there were many times I would see dried "something" dripped down the chair and I could easily wipe it up. I intended on getting something similar for stella's room and was very excited to find the perfect chair, and even more excited about the price. It's small, comfy, and will match the nursery perfectly. The only difference is that this chair is corduroy and not leather. I don't even think it is a negative feature or a downside because I like the chair so much. Here it is in the store....






(It's now in what will become stella's nursery, but right now it looks like a guest bedroom with random crap laying around and a chair in the middle of the room.)
Jared has been complaining about our other la-z-boy that is in our living room since shortly after we purchased it. He is too tall for it and it won't stay reclined back just a little--it falls all the way back if he leans back any. So he claims. I, on the other hand, have no problem with the chair. I didn't ever think I wanted a recliner in my own house, but I have been quite happy to rock porter in it, and nap in it on occasion. So, while we were at the la-z-boy store, Jared picked out a chair for himself. We are now the old couple with dueling recliners. His and hers. Just put us a couple of prescription pill bottles, magnifying glass, and a set of dentures on our little table between the chairs and we are set. It looks exactly as you are picturing. Ha ha. Ha ha.
Here are porter and jared breaking in the "big rock rock" tonight before bed.






Well, poor little cracker went to a new home tonight. We are not those people that get dogs and give them away. We are dog people, so it was hard for us, but was really the best thing for everyone involved. We got cracker last Christmas, before Jared decided he wanted to pursue crna school, and before we had intentions of a second child. We were really at a difference place in life when we decided to get another dog. But life changes, and we had to make the decision to give cracker a better home. He is going to live with a young lady that can give him all the attention we would not be able to give him. We don't like giving our dogs away, and have done it twice since we moved here. I think we will make really sure we are ready for another dog when that time comes. It will be a long time. Blue is once again an only dog, and I think he will be a little relieved, as cracker was a little more high energy than blue prefers to be.


Tara
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ISR week 3 and 4

Last Friday was the first day we were allowed to video and take pictures at "swimming gwessons." I understand why too. The first 2 1/2 weeks were a little difficult for all of us. It was hard to watch porter cry and not enjoy it, but something snapped at the beginning of the 3rd week, and by the end of the week he was excited about going and very happy during his turn. Here are a few short videos of his progress so far.
Last Friday.....

This afternoon....

Tara
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ISR week 3

I can't believe this week is half over. Porter had a turning point at swimming "gwessons" Monday and we have had no crying at swimming! He is even smiling and laughing, and asking to do certain skills more. Today he was talking and laughing while he was floating. He is floating well, and is learning to turn over and swim a little and then grab ms sarah's hand. He is also mimicking falling off the side of the pool and then turning around to "grab the bar." That might make more sense later when I can post videos!!
Today Porter's reward for swimming was nerds. He loves them and asks for them almost everyday.












Tara
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Daredevil nap and alien dog

Tara
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Crazy OR schedule, ISR week 2, call weekend

Week 2 of ISR was similar to week 1. Crying and anxiety about "grabbing the bar." By the end of the week, he was doing it, but crying every step of the way. It's totally a mental thing for him, and I hope he gets past it, because I know he can do everything he is asked to do. His teacher, Ms Sarah, did say that he has the best float. We have a long way to go on the other skills. And overcoming the anxiety. Still can't take pictures, and they wouldn't be very pretty pictures at this point anyway.
Once again, I have had a rough week at work. This time, it's the scheduling that has made my days chaotic at best. Basically I have been not getting to the OR according to my schedule, so it throws off my whole day. Makes me late for everything. Very frustrating. Hope next week is better.
This is my call weekend, and thus far, it has been quiet. All my co-healthcare workers know I have just made myself a big fat bulls eye by saying that. :)
Friday was a little crazy because Jared was diving, mama and bill were at the beach, and I was on call. Porter and I had planned to go to the movies Friday night, but a call from mizell in Opp changed our plans slightly and porter got to go to the movie with Nicole and the girls. He was way more excited about that than going with me. I joined them a little late when I got finished in the OR. Jared made it home late Friday after diving and grilling with his family for his dad's 70th birthday. Here are some pics of their catch. Scott got a monster lobster....












Yesterday porter decided he needed a good hat for a ranger ride. Here is what he chose.






Tara
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More spearfishing/lobstering

Another spearfishing video

Spearfishing video!!

First day of preschool

Today was the first day of "preschool" for porter. He is still in the same class at school, but today they start back on their abeka books. He moved up to this class last spring before the end of the year, and did really well.









He picked out his own clothes.... These days it either overalls or his alabama jersey.
Tara
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Fun for everyone!!!

Saturday Jared went diving, Porter played on the farm with Memonk (monk monk's new name) and Jerry Ward, and I sewed all day with nannie.
























Not just picking corn, Picking up corn....





You'll have to see Facebook for the pics of porter with John Barrett on the 4 wheeler.
Nannie and I did some super cute stuff, but I can't post it all yet because most of it was for a baby gift. Here is what I did for Stella.












I have two more that we did for Stella, but they are still at nannie's.
And here is Jared's prize lobster of the day.





Unfortunately it had eggs, so he had to take it back down to the bottom on the next dive. They did manage to get enough lobster that we had lobster gumbo for supper tonight!!






And we have some fish to cook this week too!!
Jared's new toy is a go pro camera that he used while diving this weekend. He is working on editing his video and will hopefully have some spearfishing videos to post tomorrow. How cool!!

Tara
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ISR week 1

It is certainly making our evenings more eventful. Since I have been busier this week, getting there on time has been a challenge, but we've made it. Porter cried more each lesson all week long and by Friday I really had to work to get him to get in the pool at all. He cries a lot because he doesn't want to "grab the bar." It's a small PVC pipe bar that hangs into the water (and under the water) a few inches. Grabbing the bar involves being let go a little away from the bar, and inevitably going under the water while reaching for the bar. It's one step in the whole sequence of floating, swimming to the side of the pool and grabbing the bar. So far the only things he's done is float and grab the bar. And Thursday and Friday he didn't do the "grab the bar" skills. He cried and started pointing to it saying, "I don't want to grab the bar" as soon as he got in the pool, so they just worked on floating. Friday he started it and Sylvie was there watching and cheering him on, so it took his mind off the dreaded bar. He started smiling and floating and ended the week on a high note. Only 5 more weeks. It will totally be worth it if be can be safer near the water. Here he is after his lesson yesterday. (not wanting to have his picture taken as usual)






And last night before bed...



I let him sleep with me last night since Jared is gone diving. He slept until after 7:00!!! Yea for mommy!!!
Tara
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Work, the beach, and ISR

Last week was really stressful at work. This week has been better. I'm sure the pregnancy hormones make things worse too. (lots of crying) Thankfully I am sleeping much better. We moved in our new office 2 weeks ago, so I finally have my own office. Mama, Bill, Jared and I spent Sunday afternoon sprucing up my space. We hung pictures and my academic achievements, moved in some furniture and it looks much better. If I had though about it I would have taken pictures. Luckily, it's not going anywhere, so I'll get some soon to post. My very generous parents have gotten me chairs and ordered a bookcase and credenza that will be in soon. I'm a blessed girl.
Last weekend we escaped the stress and relaxed at the beach. We fished saturday morning and swam in the bay Saturday afternoon. We napped well and ate well. We did take advantage of a few sales and started building porter's fall wardrobe. It was a good weekend. Here are a few of my hipstamatic pictures from the weekend. I am liking this app a whole lot, but just realized if I change my picture quality they will post more clearly, so these are a little blurry.























































Porter started the ISR program this week. It's 10 minutes a day at the wellness center in Opp. Today was the 2nd day. He is doing well I guess. There were a few tears yesterday and more tears today. Mostly involving letting him go under the water near the bar at the side of the pool. The objective is to teach him to grab the bar, but he doesn't like the process. It is a process and I am glad he is getting the opportunity to do the course. He has no fear when it comes to the water, and he needs to be able to get himself to the side of the pool safely. He was offered stamps for his hands yesterday, but was a little traumatized at the end of the lesson. Today he was way more traumatized but accepted his stamps.






We will be able to film and take pictures at the end of the third week, so I will be posting pics in the water then!!

Tara
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Randomness

1. Porter is actually sleeping ALL night every night. It is very rare lately that he gets up at night and the few times he has it was because he needed to tee tee. And that leads to....
2. I am not sleeping at night. I was up for about 4 hours Sunday night between being on call, porter needing to tee tee and the general insomnia that I have had lately. My usual is being awake for about 2 hours a night. I don't really know why. Maybe because of the amount of stress with work lately??? I hope it is not because the child I am incubating is going to be up for hours on end at night. And that leads to...
3. I have an inordinate amount of stress associated with my job these days. You would naturally think, because of what I do for a living, that is had something to do with tough cases or other issues with patient care, but it's not. I would have never thought that my biggest struggle with building a practice and making ends meet would be completely unrelated to my ability as a physician to perform surgery and take care of patients.
4. The diaper bag we (mama) made is the beginning of the nursery. The flow fabric is the basis, and we have chosen several coordinating fabrics for the bumper pad, sheets, organizer, bed skirt, and diaper stacker. I can't wait to see how it all comes together. Jared thinks I'm going to have the whole house green before it's over with and my mom is depressed by the lack of pink.
5. We are possibly going to the beach again this weekend, and since it's tax free weekend in Florida, I thought it might be a good time to think about some fall/winter clothes for porter. I kept out a couple of pairs of jeans for porter from last winter that I thought we would try on to see if I could gauge what size he might wear. The 18-24 month size gap jeans fit perfectly. Guess he's cheap to keep in clothes right now!! Kinda sad that my almost 3 year old is the same size as some 18 month olds......
6. I had an appointment with the OB yesterday. An ultrasound was done to check anatomy, and it is still a girl. Stella Grace. I was also scolded for my weight gain. Meh. Whatever. So I'm gonna make it worth it. We had homemade buffalo wings with honey mustard and ranch tonight and red velvet Ben and Jerry's ice cream for dessert. Take that scale!! I was in the best shape ever right before this pregnancy and was under my pre-pregnancy weight when I stopes nursing last time, so I'm not giving it a second thought. Though it still bothers me that it was brought up. Again, whatever.
7. Continuing on the subject of food... Our friends Emily and Jon came over from monroeville Sunday night for what could accurately be described as a meat buffet. We had three different types of chicken wings, two kinds of pork tenderloin, and a slab of ribs. Great food and great company. I must give a review for the new buffalo Tabasco. Excellent. We used it according the the box's directions for a buffalo wing sauce, and it was so good we had wings again tonight.

I think that's enough for now...,



Tara
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Sewing!!!

Here are three shirts we did for my niece Catherine last week that I forgot to post.









Tara
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Tear free haircut!!!

First one ever!!! Don't know what changed except that bribes are starting to be an effective means to get things accomplished.






See the sucker???


Best haircut we've gotten in a while. (and it didn't have anything to do with the skill of the cutter)


Tara
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New diaper bag!!!

I can't take much credit, but I did pick out the fabric, and cut out the pattern and fabric. Mama did all the real work.... I LOVE it!!!









Tara
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