Just another day in paradise...

Poops Magee

2010-05-24T14:02:00.003-04:00

So, Ian and I are home sick from school and work today. Actually, Ian's the sick one, I'm just along for the ride.

Day care has a rule that if a child has 2 diarrhea diapers, their parents are called and they have to go home. On Friday, around 4, we got that call for Ian. I went and picked him up, no big deal. It was the end of the day, so I was already done.

He'd been having issues on and off for the last week, so I thought maybe it was all the fruit he'd been eating. Over the weekend, we cut out the fruit and things started to look better. However, by 9:45 this morning, Ian had met the 2 poopy max. So, with some rearranging of schedules, I went to pick him up. I called the pediatrician, and after a phone interview, decided it wasn't necessary for Ian to come in to see her. She said it sounded like a GI virus, and the best thing we could do is keep him hydrated. She stated that if things change and he started running a fever or had blood in his diapers, we should come see her, but for now, stock him up on bananas and yogurt. She also said this could take 7-10 days to run its course.

So, here it is, 2 o'clock and we've already had 5 major blow outs. I've washed sheets, the changing pad cover and shorts. And, I'm on my last pack of baby wipes. I've finally just decided to leave him in his diaper and worry about it all later. He's finally asleep, I've completely screwed up his schedule.

The thing is, he is completely fine otherwise. No fever, no significant crabbiness/crankiness, no loss of appetite or thirst, and runs and plays as if nothing is bothering him. The problem is, day care won't let him back until he's had 12 hours of non-diarrhea diapers. At the rate we're going, I don't think that will happen. So, Jim gets to stay home with him tomorrow, if it comes down to that.

People say it could be teeth. He is getting 2 bottom teeth right now, I just saw them peeking through yesterday, but he's never had this problem with teething before. Usually, we don't even realize he's getting teeth until he smiles and there they are.

Regardless of the cause, I hope he stops soon! There's only so much crap this momma can take!

My Mother's Day Present

2010-05-17T22:12:00.000-04:00

So, for like the last 9 years, I've really wanted to get a tattoo. But, I've been scared. I've always wanted it on the top of my foot, and I had been told that that was one of the worst places to get it, because there wasn't a lot of tissue between the skin and the bones and tendons. However, I've never changed my mind about the design and the location.

For Mother's Day, Jim finally decided he'd listen to me complain about wanting a tattoo and not doing anything about it, so he took me to a place in Naples. I told them what I wanted, where I wanted it, and that I needed it done ASAP so I wouldn't chicken out. They got me in tonight.

The design is amazing. I drew out my basic sketch, and the artist, Mark, made it a work of art. He tweaked it a little bit, and I love it. The whole process took about an hour, but the actually tattooing was only about 30 minutes. Believe it or not, but I would not say the tattooing hurt. Some areas were uncomfortable, but overall, not bad at all. If I knew it would be that easy, I would have gotten it done 9 years ago!

A little background on my design. I wanted something that in 60 years, would still matter and be meaningful to me.

The cross-now this one is obvious...this symbolizes Christ and his ultimate sacrifice for me on the cross, forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
The ichthys-the symbol for early Christians; what is neat about this Greek word is that each of the letters that make up the word, stand for something else...so if you look at the letters, it comes out to "Jesus Christ, God's Son, Savior." Also, in early Christianity, during the time that Christians were persecuted, when two strangers met on the road, one would draw the top part of the symbol. If the other stranger completed the picture, they knew they were in good company. If the stranger did not complete the drawing, he was considered a foe.

So there you go. I love it, and that's all that matters!

Ian in the Tub

2010-05-11T21:20:00.003-04:00

Don't worry, everything's covered!

15 months

2010-04-25T16:15:00.004-04:00

Ian hit 15 months on April 6th. We finally got to the doctor on the 16th, so here's our 15 month stats.

Height: 32.6 inches (Just shy of the 95%ile)
Weight: 24 pounds (Just shy of the 50%ile)

Again, he's long and skinny. I was going through his dresser a few weeks ago, cleaning out the clothes that he can't wear. I found several pairs of shorts from 6-9 months that he can still fit into. He's long in the legs, but small in the waist. So, he's wearing 6-18 month shorts and 12-18 month shirts. It really just depends on the brand.

Other things Ian is doing:

Running with a flight phase. He is getting both feet off the ground.
Walking around on tip-toe, despite Momma telling him no!
He is following simple commands, like, "Please close the door" or "Give Jubie a hug."
FINALLY has words! He will consistently say Momma, Daddy and inconsistenly say Ubie (Jubie), Ake-ear (Shakespeare), Uce (juice), Out, Ank ou (Thank you), ball and ballon.
Is getting two more teeth, his upper side teeth. He is now up to 6 teeth, total; 4 on the top, 2 on the bottom

He's a funny kid, and so laid back. Momma loves you, Ian!

Happy Easter

2010-04-11T11:28:00.006-04:00

We had a wonderful Easter Sunday. Church was uplifting, Easter Egg hunt was successful and Easter Dinner was amazing.

I love our church. I have never left there on Sunday and not felt uplifted and ready to face the upcoming week. That's exactly what you need in a church...a place that tempers law vs. gospel and prepares you to enter the mission field and do God's work. The choir sang, and Ian was well behaved during the sermon...something that doesn't always happen. We've also started taking him up for Children's message. I know he doesn't understand, but it's good practice for him to go up and sit quietly. And, the older members in the congregation find it cute.

After church service, there was an Easter Egg hunt. I wasn't sure how Ian was going to do, since he had difficulty at my work's egg hunt, but he did very well. He was carrying his Easter Basket and knew to put the eggs in. He had a blast running around picking up the eggs.

We also found out on Easter Sunday that our loan has been approved by the synod and we now have the money we need to start building our church. The plan is that next year, we will have our Easter service in our new church.

Christ is Risen, He has Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

Strawberry Picking

2010-04-11T11:12:00.006-04:00

2 weeks ago, Ian, Jim and I went to a little "u-pick" farm to pick strawberries. We had a lot of fun, and got a lot of produce! Ian was a little unsure at first, but quickly decided that picking strawberries was fun, but STOMPING on strawberries was even better! We ended up bringing home 6 pounds of strawberries, which I then cut up and froze, but not before making 2 loaves of strawberry bread and 2 weeks worth of strawberry pancakes for Ian. Enjoy the pictures!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

2010-03-17T11:21:00.000-04:00

I have a wonderful husband. Today, he turned 29. It's crazy, when we met, we were both 18. I have had the amazing privilege of spending 11 birthdays with him. He has definitely grown up from the 18 year old he once was. I appreciate him as a man, as a husband and as a father. I know he doesn't always like his job, but he works so we can have fun. He is an amazing father, and it warms my heart to see him and Ian playing together. So, happy birthday, baby. I love you!

Feeding Video

2010-03-16T20:54:00.002-04:00

Ian Feeding Himself

2010-03-16T20:49:00.004-04:00

We have been working on feeding with Ian for a couple of weeks. Mostly, I haven't been a big fan of it since it is so messy, but I've been trying to let him explore his environment and practice. He loves yogurt, so here's some pictures of Ian feeding himself.

Ian's Surgery

2010-03-16T20:23:00.005-04:00

Ian had his tubes put in yesterday. Let me tell you, he was an absolute trooper! We got to the surgery center at 7:15 Monday morning and Ian was taken back about 7:45. It was the worst feeling in the world watching the nurse take my baby back in the back. They had told us to dress him in loose fitting clothes, no onsie. So, he was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt and a pair of pants. One of the nurses brought us a t-shirt and suggested we change him into that. It was huge, but it was so cute on him. So, they take him back and about 20 minutes later, the surgeon comes out and tells us that the surgery is over, everything went fine, and we just needed to wait for him to come out of the anesthesia. About 10 minutes later, the anesthesiologist came out and told us Ian was awake, crying and angry, "just like we like them." He also said not to be surprised if he was crying when they brought him out. He wasn't. He had a concerned look on his face, and did cry a little when he saw his juice box. He was fine once he drank his apple juice. We were home by 9:15.

Ian has not acted like anything out of the ordinary has happened. He did take a 2 hour nap yesterday, which is a little longer than normal, but other than that, he's the same happy, carefree kid. I stayed home with him all day yesterday, and then today, Jim had him in the morning and I took a half day in the afternoon. Tomorrow, he will go back to daycare and things will be back to normal.

Helping around the house!

2010-03-10T22:11:00.007-05:00

So, I figure it's time to start Ian on the housework. He loves to sweep the floors, and with new floors and 2 dogs, we need to sweep a lot.

Ian's Favorite Food...

2010-03-10T22:09:00.003-05:00

KETCHUP!!

Ian Playing with Jim's Playstation

2010-03-10T21:48:00.003-05:00

I want to apologize for my singing. I didn't realize I was doing it, and I promise it didn't last long. Ian was having fun dancing to Wheezer and playing with the Playstation remote. Please enjoy!

Missing Daddy...

2010-03-10T19:53:00.002-05:00

Today is the 2nd anniversary of the end of my dad's earthly journey. It was a hard day. There are times when the pain isn't as bad, and I can go for several days not really thinking about the fact that he's gone. Then there are times that the pain comes back, as if it has just happened again. Those times are mainly when I look at Ian and realize what he's missing by not knowing Papa. Occasionally, my little monkey will get a look on his face, or make a hand gesture that is so my dad, and it's enough to bring tears to my eyes. So, while I mourn the passing of my father, I rejoice in the glimpses of him I see every day in my son.

This song still brings tears to my eyes, and still says everything that's in my heart, 2 years later.

Out of the Loop

2010-03-07T20:49:00.001-05:00

Sorry everyone, or no one...either way. I haven't touched the computer since Wednesday. I just haven't felt up to it, so there has been no posts or anything. However, I do have some cute Ian pictures and video that I plan on getting up here tomorrow. Check back soon!

ENT

2010-02-27T20:16:00.004-05:00

Ian had a visit with the ENT on Thursday. He has had an ear infection and fluid in both ears since December. He's been on 4 different antibiotics and we can't seem to get it under control. After our last visit with the pediatrician, she recommended we see the specialist. So, after meeting with Dr. Reidy, we decided that the best thing for Ian would be have ear tubes inserted to allow the fluid to drain. He did say we could postpone the surgery and try allergy medicine, but he was almost positive that he would have to have the tube, regardless. While Ian doesn't act like his ears bother him, I know they must be uncomfortable at the very least. And, I'm concerned that he's not speaking yet. We don't even get a consistent Mama or Dada, when kids his age normally have 2-3 words in addition to those. In speaking with the doctors and my speech therapist buddies, I know the fluid is affecting his hearing. I'm sure he's hearing everything we say as if we're underwater. I know he can hear me because he understands and responds to questions and his name, but I know it's muffled, making mimicry difficult. The consensus seems to be that, barring anything else, he should be talking relatively soon after the tubes are inserted.

So, with that being said, we're going in on Friday, March 12 for the pre-op hearing test and registration, and then on Monday, March 15th, he'll have the tubes put in. It's only about a 10 minute procedure, and the doctor does not use general anesthesia, but gas, so the recovery should only be about 90 minutes. I know it's a simple procedure, but I still feel bad that he has to go through it. He's a trooper, though, and I bet he'll do better than me!

New Lights and Less Trees

2010-02-27T17:32:00.010-05:00

Last weekend, Jim and I bought a new chandelier for the dining area. The old one was white and plain, and didn't give off much light. So, today, Jim put the new one up. I really like it and it goes really well with the brushed nickel on all the other light fixtures. It did take one trip to the hardware store to buy a wire cutter/stripper, but he did a beautiful job and the light is so bright! I love it and I'm glad that Jim put it up for me.

Before

After

Jim also had some help from a very willing assistant. It was really cute, Ian ran and got his tool box and set it up next to Daddy and started banging away.

After that, Jim decided there was a dead tree in the front yard that was just begging to be cut down. So, Jim grabbed his ax and had the tree down in about 30 minutes. Ian and I watched and played in the front yard while Daddy turned all "lumberjack."

Most of you already know what Jim got for Christmas. He had been talking about taking up golf, so my mom got him a starter set of clubs. He's been practicing out in the front yard ever since. Usually, Ian goes out and "helps" Daddy with his swing. His "help" usually consists of taking the club away from him and running around the front yard. Anyway, our church youth group had a rummage sale today, and we found the cutest pair of baby clubs for $1. So, Ian was out playing with his clubs. While he had a club in each hand, he had a tendency to use his left hand for the swing. Please enjoy the pictures!

Changes

2010-02-26T20:57:00.003-05:00

I've been playing around with the layout for my blog. I think I have it okay for a while. It might change, later, but this is what I got for now. A big THANK YOU to Jamie at jamespurejoy.blogspot.com. She's so creative. I wish I had a 10th of her creativity!

A first at church...and hopefully the last...

2010-02-21T16:32:00.003-05:00

I can't tell you much about the church service, but it was memorable anyway. And for reasons that are not good, and upset and infuriate me. Let me first start out by saying that I love our church and the majority of its members. From when we first started attending, up until now, we have been welcomed with open arms and friendly smiles. Jim and I have great church friends, and Ian has dozens of doting grandmas and grandpas. Our pastor and his wife are amazing. Pastor Liebich came to the hospital when Ian was born, and was one of the first people to hold him.

Now, today, after 3 years of attending our church, I had the unpleasant opportunity to feel unwelcome. The sermon was just starting, and Ian had a huge blowout. I took him into the teacher's lounge to address the damage. 10 minutes later (yes, it was that big!) we went out into the back room. Our church meets in a middle school cafeteria. The large room is split into two by folding tables. The worship area is in the front and the fellowship area is in the back. There is no specific nursery, just a blanket and some toys in the fellowship area. I put Ian down in the back, and he made a B-line for the toys. He pulled the lid off of the toy box and threw it down. I grimaced because it was loud, but I couldn't get to it in time. However, after that, Ian was content to play with the toys, not being too loud, and definitely not interrupting the service. However, at this time, the president of the congregation came back. I have never been a great fan of his. I find him a little arrogant and cocky. Anyway, he came back and grabbed the blanket and told us we needed to move to the back. Basically, I took it to mean that we were being too loud and we needed to move. I picked up Ian, said that was okay, and we went back into the worship area. I was so upset. I felt like I had been kicked out for being too loud. We were in no way disturbing the congregation, no worse than normal. And no worse than the kids that had stayed in the worship area all along. I couldn't believe I had been made to feel unwelcome in my own church. I was upset and furious all in one. I wanted to get up and leave church all together. Unfortunately, I couldn't keep the tears from coming. And unfortunately, people noticed. The only thing that was positive was that the people in the congregation did not feel the same as this man.

Now, I'm a member, and I started thinking about finding another church. However, after Jim and I spoke, we decided it wasn't fair to let one idiot run us off from a church we love and who loves us. What scares me it those people who aren't members. There is nothing to keep them coming back to our church if that is the welcome they receive. Families with children are the future of our church. And, when we start our early childhood program, hopefully, children will be a much needed addition to our congregation. If this is the reception they receive, I am scared that we'll lose them.

So, now I'm torn as to what to do. As I said before, right now, my only reason for staying is because I know the congregation does not hold the same opinion. However, I don't want to be somewhere my son is not welcome, well behaved or not.

Mr. Muscles!

2010-02-16T21:17:00.001-05:00

Visiting Friends

2010-02-07T20:04:00.008-05:00

This weekend, Ian and I went up to Melbourne Beach, Florida to see some good friends. I met Brandon and Amy back in 2006, when they both worked at Green Tree with me. We've kept in touch ever since. They came to visit me when Ian was just 10 days old. They came to his baptism. Last year when we went to Detroit, we drove to Chicago to see them. It's nice to have friends like that. They're both traveling PTs and have spent every season in Naples, until this one. Thankfully, they were still in Florida, so Ian and I made the 4 hour drive to see them. They are staying in this amazing beach house, almost on the beach. (You have to cross the street to get there, but I'm not being picky!)

We got in late Friday night due to a 40 mile mistake on my part. Ian slept in the car, and was up and ready to play when we got in at 11. He made it to 12:30! Saturday, we took Ian for his first trip to the beach. It was chilly and windy, but he seemed to really like it, until nap time. Brandon buried him in the sand, a wave knocked him over, and he had fun picking up shells.

It was so nice to have a lazy weekend. And what made it even better was that Brandon and Amy loved on my son, so I was given a little break on the parenting front. Ian wanted to be held, Brandon picked him. He wanted to go outside, Amy took him out. I even got the chance to take a nap on the couch...when Ian wasn't napping!

Thanks, guys, for such a great weekend, and for spoiling my son. He was already looking for you when we got home. Hopefully, you'll extend and we can all come see you...or better yet, I'll get you a job at NCH!

(Oh, congratulations on the engagement...Brandon, Amy will be a BEAUTIFUL bride!)

New House!

2010-01-31T19:46:00.007-05:00

At least it feels like it! Jim and I have been in our house going on 4 years now. We've been wanting to replace the carpet for almost 4 years! We did put down new carpet in the bedrooms about 3 years ago, and knew we wanted to put down laminate in the living/dining room. 2 years ago, we looked into it, and it was going to cost about $5600. So, we waited. About a month ago, a new floor store opened up in Bonita, and we stopped in to see what was up. It is a factory outlet store for Mohawk flooring. We found laminate we liked, got a rough estimate and bit the bullet and bought it. And the cost was about 1/3 of what the original cost was going to be.

Jim and I also had been talking about replacing the living room furniture, as well. Partly because the furniture we have is 12 years old, and partly because, in thinking ahead, when baby #2 comes along, we'll be turning the guest bedroom into another baby room. Then, we'd lose our guest quarters. So we were really looking to get a sleeper sofa for those occasional visitors. 2 weeks ago, we went and looked at Rooms to Go, a store down here that offers 3 years no interest. Needless to say, we walked out with a new living room set.

Everything culminated on Saturday. The guys came to install the floor (we weren't about to test our marriage over this) and the furniture was delivered. Jim, Ian, the doggies and I were holed up in our bedroom for about 7 hours while the guys put our floors in. Everything looks so nice! And our house has that nice, new home smell. The tables that we ordered are not in stock until March, so we're still using our old tables. I also need to get an area rug for the living area. New curtains and hardware are also in the plans. So, please enjoy the lovely pictures!

Kite Flying

2010-01-16T19:23:00.008-05:00

It was a beautiful day in Florida today! Jim had off, so we had big plans to do NOTHING! Jim was outside switching out our car seats, (the forward facing car seat is now in my car), when Jim got the idea to get out the kite. I'm not sure how long the kite has been sitting in our garage, or that Jim even remembered we had a kite, but out it came. Unfortunately, while it was windy, it was GUSTY, which didn't make for good kite flying conditions. However, I think Jim and Ian (and me) had a great time trying to get the kite to fly (and watching the results). Enjoy the pictures!

My Daddy in Ian

2010-01-10T20:02:00.008-05:00

So, most of you who read this blog know that my Daddy died in March 2008. I got pregnant with Ian in April, 2008. It was really upsetting to me that Ian and my dad would never meet this side of Heaven. After Ian was born, I really saw a lot of me in him. As he's gotten older, I see a lot of Jimmy. However, at Ian's birthday party, Joanna took a picture of Ian that almost took my breath away. I think Ian looks so much like my Daddy in this picture, except for the frosting.

Teeth

2010-01-10T19:54:00.003-05:00

Here's a good picture of Ian's top two front teeth. He has his two bottom teeth, as well, but they're harder to show. And, that's chocolate on his face from his pre-birthday cupcake!

Ian's 12 month stats!

2010-01-10T14:05:00.005-05:00

Ian's Stats

Height: 31.2 inches (90th %ile)
Weight: 22 pounds (50th %ile)

(Weight/Height: 25%ile)

Needless to say, Ian is long and skinny! We have now upgraded to a forward facing car seat, and have switched from formula to whole milk. He loves milk! Also, we have completely skipped a sippy cup. He never could figure out how to use one, so he just skipped to a straw or a regular glass. Needless to say, both require supervision with anything other than water.

Ian does still have an ear infection. He was on an antibiotic for 10 days, and when we went back to the doctor, one ear had cleared up, but the right ear was still infected. So, we started another, stronger antibiotic. However, because of this, it has given him a nice case of diarrhea and diaper rash. It doesn't seem to bother him, but I've already changed 2 outfits today.

Ian moves up to the one year old room on Monday. I think he will love it. They get to do a lot of crafts and go outside. He's been going over there a couple of hours a day over the last week, so hopefully the transition won't be too hard.

I guess that's about it. Ian's sleeping right now, so I really should go finish up the laundry! Ugh...a wife/mother's job is never done!

Happy Birthday, Little Man!

2010-01-06T20:43:00.010-05:00

My baby is a year old today! We celebrated by going to work and school, then coming home for dinner of home-made chicken nuggets, broccoli and birthday cake! Publix, the local supermarket that Jimmy works for, has a deal that for your first birthday, you get a free smash cake. So, it was amazing watching him start out timidly and then really get into it. Needless to say, I had cake on my walls that I needed to clean up! We go to the doctor on Friday, so I'll give you the stats then. Please enjoy the pictures!

Merry Christmas!

2010-01-03T12:09:00.010-05:00

I know I'm a little bit late, but Merry Christmas to everyone! We had a wonderful Christmas this year, much better than last year. Last year, I was 38 weeks pregnant and miserable and with no family! This Christmas, I have a wonderful baby boy and my mom was able to be here, too.

My mom came in on Monday, December 21 and stayed until January 1. It was so nice to have her here, and it really helped with Ian. I know he really enjoyed having his Neena's undivided attention! Everyone got some really neat gifts, and of course, Ian came out the winner on the spoiled rotten front. He wasn't a big fan of unwrapping presents, and didn't really show any interest in tearing the paper, but he LOVED what was inside the boxes. He ended up with a lot of toys, and now my living room looks like a toy store.

Tuesday, December 29th, we all went to the Naples Botanical Gardens, and enjoyed walking around in the sun and plants. It was a really nice day and Ian enjoyed playing in the Children's Garden. Unfortunately, during the holidays, both Ian and my mom got sick. Ian with an upper respiratory infection, bilateral ear and eye infections. My mom ended up with a throat infection. Ian is definately feeling better, and I'm thinking my mom is on the mend.

It was very nice having family here for Christmas. Jim's parents are coming on January 2nd, and will stay for a week, to celebrate Ian's first birthday. I can't believe he's going to be a year old! Where has the time gone???

In peace

2009-12-26T16:44:00.003-05:00

Choirs of angels are singing as Aunt Phillis joins the lucky in heaven. Jim's aunt passed away today in Tampa, after collapsing at the airport on their way home to Detroit. Please pray for healing and comfort for Uncle Ed and Cousin Kristen as they mourn the loss of wife and mother...and also for the Fleming family as they deal with the loss of sister and friend.

Christmas Letter 2009

2009-12-19T13:56:00.003-05:00

Merry Christmas to our family and friends!

It is hard to believe that another year has come to an end! It seems like just yesterday I was sitting at the computer, struggling to breathe, writing our letter for 2008! What a wonderful year it has been, with joyous changes for the Florida Flemings.

At 5:12 pm on January 6, 2009, Ian James Fleming made it safely into the world, weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and 20.5 inches long. It has been a wonderful year of watching our little man grow, from smiling, to rolling, to sitting, to running around. Yes, I said running! Ian took is first steps at 9 months and has been going ever since! Needless to say, it is not quiet in our house anymore! During the week, Ian goes to “school” and is thriving! While we would love to keep him home, we think this is the best place for him to be. He is learning to socialize and has made many friends.

Jim continues to work for Publix. In May, we got the wonderful news that he had been promoted to Assistant Deli Manager. He is still working at a Publix in Bonita Springs, which makes day care drop-offs and lunch drop-ins easier. After figuring out the learning curve, he is growing in his management skills and hopes to move up to manager in a few years. Jim continues to be active at church, recently being nominated for Education Chair. He hopes to help grow the Sunday school and youth program into a nice group. He does have his work cut out for him!

Amanda is still working at NCH’s Bonita Outpatient Rehab Center as a physical therapist and program leader. After an amazing 12 weeks of maternity leave, she reluctantly returned to work, stepping into the busiest summer she’s ever experienced! She recently was blessed with the added responsibility of supervising the 10 customer service representatives at the various outpatient clinics. Most days, things go well, but some days she wonders about what she’s gotten herself into! Whenever she can find that elusive “spare time,” Amanda enjoys singing in the church choir and spending as much time with her two boys as possible.

Our two dogs, Jubilee and Shakespeare, have handled the new addition quite well. Jubilee enjoys mothering him, often trying to finish the bath we obviously forgot to give him. She is not too thrilled with the fact that Ian is now mobile, but has quickly learned to get out of the way of grasping fingers. Shakespeare is excited that someone will play with him and drop lots of food on the floor. He has taken up permanent residence under Ian’s high chair.

While we admit we are not the best at keeping in touch with our family and friends, please know that you are always in our hearts and prayers. We hope that this year, each and every one of you feel the warmth and love that comes from the birth of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

Merry Christmas!

The Florida Flemings

Jimandafleming.blogspot.com

Philippians 1:3

Little Drummer Boy

2009-12-13T10:40:00.006-05:00

Friday night was such a fun night! The Christmas program was so cute! Ian's group started out the program and Ian led the way down the aisle. The other babies were either carried or pushed in a stroller, but Ian walked down with a drum strapped to him and a jingle bell in his hand. The "awes" were so loud and everyone watched the babies. Ian was the perfect drummer boy.

It made me a little sad thinking about it. I know Ian loves his teacher, Ms. Yazmin. She's been very good to us, and we're only going to be in her class for another 3 weeks. I'm not ready for him to move up to the one-year old room. I'm not ready for him to be one! My little boy is growing up so fast!

Christmas Program

2009-12-07T20:08:00.004-05:00

We're going to Ian's first Christmas program on Friday. Jim and I were talking on Saturday, and Jim made a comment that before we had Ian, he was dreading all of the programs and recitals and things that we would now have to go to as parents. He vividly remembers dreading going to his sisters dance recitals, and was not looking forward to sitting through them with his own kids.

But, WE ARE SO EXCITED! We can't wait for Friday, so we can watch our little boy in the program! The "Baby Bungalow" group will start the program, with the "Little Drummer Boy." My son gets to be the little drummer boy! (Mainly because he's the only one in his class that can walk, but still.) We plan on taking lots of pictures, and being "those parents" with the video camera! Check back later for the details!

PS...my son is no longer a crawler. He is a full-time walking boy!

So much to be thankful for...

2009-11-29T20:19:00.011-05:00

I am thankful for my wonderful, handsome, awesome husband.

I am thankful that I have a sweet, loving, HEALTHY baby boy.
I am thankful that I have a mother that is my role model.
I am thankful that I have a wonderful relationship with my older brother.
I am thankful I have sisters that I truly call my own.
I am thankful I have loving in-loves that raised a good, Christan man.
I am thankful that I know my daddy is in Heaven.
I am thankful that I have friends that understand even if we don't talk, I still love them.
I am thankful that I have a job that I love most days.
I am thankful that all of my needs and most of my wants are continuously met.

And above all...
I am thankful that I am a child of God, perfect because of his sacrafice on the cross.

Nubbins!

2009-11-29T20:14:00.004-05:00

Finally, after nearly 11 months of being toothless, Ian came home from school on Wednesday with the start of two teeth. And, of course he couldn't be normal about them. Usually, the first teeth that come it are the bottom two front teeth, and then the top two front teeth. Ian decided that all he wanted for Thanksgiving was his two top front teeth. The left one is just peaking through and the right one is just behind it. Hopefully they'll be completely out soon. He isn't showing any signs of discomfort with them, he's just extra drooly. (We didn't know that was even possible!)

So, enjoy the picture. And yes, Ian is screaming in the picture because he doesn't like to show them off!

Colorado Trip

2009-11-29T17:16:00.007-05:00

On November 11, Jim, Ian and I hopped a plane to Colorado to see Neena. Ian did pretty well on the two flights from Florida to Colorado, pretty much sleeping the entire time. We got in pretty late Wednesday night and spent some time talking with Neena before bed.

Neena had to work the next day, so I got up early to take her to work. Jim, Ian and I then went to the grocery store to buy some bread making supplies and other things. Jim tried so hard to make potato bread, but wasn't able to successfully adjust for the altitude. (However, we secretly think it was Neena's oven that was the true culprit.)

Friday, Neena took the whole day off to play with us. We went to the park for Ian's first trip. He wasn't too sure about the slides, but had a blast on the swings. It was a pretty day out, but very windy. Baby drool and wind do not work well together on poor baby cheeks. We did go out to dinner with some of my mom's friends from work. They are very nice, and I'm glad she has them.

Saturday was not very nice. It was cold, windy and sleety. However, we powered through and did some all-important shopping.

We woke up Sunday morning to about an inch of snow. Ian wasn't sure what to think of this strange white stuff, and tried to shake it off his hands when Daddy stuck them in it. We braved church and then went out for breakfast.

Monday, we just hung around the house until we had to leave for the airport. Neena took a half a day off from work, so she got to get some last minute cuddles in before we left.

I need to take this time to express my frustration with security at the airport, specifically the Colorado Springs airport. It took us 40 minutes to get through security. The same diaper bag (with the same items) that was perfectly fine leaving Ft. Myers (and Detroit, for that matter) was completely torn apart in Colorado Springs. They wanted to toss my diaper cream, my teething gel, my hand sanitizer and the baby Tylenol all because they weren't in the plastic bag, despite the fact that on the security web page, this is stated as not necessary. They even made us take Ian's bib off when we went through the metal detector. Jim was allowed to wear his hat, but a baby bib needed to come off. Also, they did not say a single thing about the baby Tylenol that was in my purse. It was just so frustrating because no airport is the same. One thing might be completely fine one place, and cause a huge deal the next place. I told the security person this, and she (rudely) stated that it's a national policy and every airport was exactly the same. I laughed and said that wasn't true. Oh well, we made it through and had no problems the rest of the way home.

Okay, off my soap box.... Overall, we had a wonderful, if not too short, time in Colorado. Thankfully, Neena will be in Florida soon for Ian's first Christmas! We can't wait!

Walking boy.

2009-11-09T21:24:00.003-05:00

So, on October 6th, Ian took his first steps. He was 9 months old! Now, at the ripe old age of 10 months, he's walking about 50% of the time. He usually starts out walking, gets halfway and either falls, and then crawls, or gets frustrated and then crawls the rest of the way. He looks so proud of himself. It's a great thing to watch my baby grow! Now, if he could just get some teeth!

This video is from sometime between 9-10 months. I don't know what day exactly, but closer to 9 months. Please ignore my lovely "mommy" voice. Enjoy!

Up to my eyeballs!

2009-11-09T21:21:00.003-05:00

I don't know how we end up with so much laundry! I have a pile of dirty clothes in the middle of my bedroom, a pile of clean clothes on the bed ready to be folded and a load in the washer right now. Oh, and I have a load of Ian's clothes to be folded in his room. I hate laundry!

So tired....

2009-11-07T21:10:00.004-05:00

I don't know if I will ever be rested. I am so exhausted! Jim's been working a lot this week, and he'll be working a lot next week, too, and there's just so much to do! My house is a disaster area, but I don't know what to do about it. I try to keep things picked up, but since I'm at home with Ian most of the time, I can't get down and clean. Jim works 50 hours a week, and his schedule constantly changes, so I can't count on having him home to help with the cleaning. If Ian is awake, he either wants to be held or is busy tearing things apart. If Ian is asleep, I can do the little stuff, but not the heavy duty stuff because I don't want to wake him up. When Ian is napping, I nap, too. Being a full time working mom is really hard!

Right now, I should be dusting my living room. Or unloading my dish washer, or folding the laundry. But, I'm sitting on the couch, updating my blog and debating whether 9:15 is too early to go to bed. I'm thinking not.

Trying to post a video

2009-11-05T06:51:00.003-05:00

This is a little old, but I don't have any recent videos ready for posting. I hope this works! I believe this was the 2nd try with rice cereal back in May when Ian was 4 months.

A new beginning...

2009-11-02T22:26:00.003-05:00

So, I've been having trouble keeping up with my Live Journal blog, so I thought I would start something new and fresh here on Blogspot.

It's kinda bittersweet because I have some great things written over on Live Journal, but maybe I'll slowly transfer them over. I don't want to give them up...moving into our new house, getting our first puppy, my dad getting sick and dying, and the birth and subsequent growth of Ian. We'll see.

Regardless, this is a fresh start. Starting over and starting fresh. Enjoy!

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T19:43:00.001-04:00

Of course, Jimmy picked out Ian's costume. Jimmy is a HUGE Star Wars fan, and we saw this costume in the store and thought it would be perfect for Ian. We even had his nine month pictures taken in his costume! On October 29, we went up to Gulf Coast Town Center for Trick-or-Treating. All of the stores were passing out candy, so it was a safe, fun place to spend Halloween. Ian ended up scoring Mom and Dad, I mean getting, a lot of candy. We did let him have some, but we saved the majority of it for after he went to bed. Enjoy the pictures!

Ian's 9 Month Stats

2009-10-08T19:37:00.002-04:00

Weight: 19lbs 8oz (25%ile)
Height/Length: 29 inches (75%ile)

Ian only had 2 shots this time, including the flu shot. We only got the seasonal flu vaccine because that's all we wanted (and all our pediatrician recommended). He'll have to go back in a month to get a second flu shot. He cried for all of 1 minute. He's a champ!

Milestones: WALKING!

Walking Boy!

2009-10-06T19:32:00.001-04:00

It's official! Ian is a walking boy. He took his first steps today, fueled by the need to grab Momma's cell phone! I guess this is it. My little boy is officially growing up and life as we know it will never be the same. Baby proofing the house just got a little more important, especially since his reach has now doubled!

Transitions?

2009-08-10T19:28:00.001-04:00

Ian has been sitting up on his own for a while now, but tonight, he went from lying on his belly to sitting up. I can't believe how big my little boy is getting!

Crawling!?!?

2009-08-03T19:25:00.001-04:00

Ian started crawling for the first time today. He has a pretty mean army crawl. He's not very fast, but he can get where he wants without too much frustration!

Ian's 6 Month Stats

2009-07-06T19:23:00.002-04:00

Ian James

Weight: 17.7 pounds (50th %ile)
Height: 28 inches (95th %ile)

Milestones:

Sitting up on his own
Rolling front to back and back to front
Rocking on his knees
Getting up onto his knees

4 Month Stats

2009-05-12T19:20:00.003-04:00

Ian turned 4 months on May 6, but we finally saw the pediatrician today. Here's the info:

Length: 26.2 inches (95th %ile)

Weight: 15.1 pounds (50th %ile)

We get to start solid foods today. This evening we'll try some rice cereal and go from there. I hope he takes to it pretty quickly, however I'm not too optimistic, as his tongue thrust reflex is still very prominent. But, we'll see what happens. I plan on taking plenty of pictures and video, so please look back later for action shots!

Ian's Two Month Stats

2009-03-09T21:32:00.001-04:00

Weight: 10lbs 15.5oz (50%ile)
Height/Length: 24 inches (75-90%ile)

He also had to have 4 shots today...the polio vaccine, HiB vaccine, a pneumococcal vaccine and the DTP vaccine. He cried for about 10 minutes and then he was done. Jim came with me today, just in case, but Ian did very well. The doctor is pleased with is progress and we'll see her again in 2 months, when we start talking about rice cereal and fruits/vegetables. Also, I asked about supplementing Ian with formula while he's at day care, just in case I don't send enough breast milk, and she said that was fine. He'd still be eating breast milk the majority of the time, and we don't want him to be hungry.

One Month Well Baby Visit

2009-02-09T14:56:00.005-05:00

Well, Ian and I saw our doctors yesterday. My appointment went well. I have developed an infection in my incision, so she put me on an antibiotic, which was free from Publix! I was completely stoked about that! Also, she's requesting to extend my disability time because of the infection and because I'm not allowed to lift over 10 pounds, and my job requires me to lift 50 pounds. It's up to my case manager to decide it that's acceptable or not. I also found out that I gained a total of 32 pounds in my pregnancy and I have lost 22 pounds already. 10 more to go to hit my pre-pregnancy weight, but I'm not going to stop there!

Ian's appointment went much better. The doctor had been concerned that he wasn't gaining weight as fast as she would like. After our last appointment, she stated that she wanted him to gain an ounce a day. It was 10 days between appointments, so Ian should have been 8.3 at the appointment yesterday. He was 8.6! She was very happy and everything is back on track. She doesn't have to see him weekly anymore. We'll go back in a month for his 2 month check up. He did get his second hepatitis shot yesterday, and took it like a champ. I think he hated having the band-aid pulled off more than actually getting the shot. The next visit is going to be very trying for me, he has 4 shots scheduled! I'm going to have to take medicine before that one!

I guess that's about it. I'm sad that I only have 7 more weeks at home with my baby. I can definately see the appeal of being a stay at home mom. I do miss work a litle, but not that much. Maybe, in the future, I can be a part-time worker and have the best of both worlds!

Enjoy a few pictures!

Ian's One Month Stats

2009-02-09T14:54:00.001-05:00

Weight: 8 lbs, 6 ozs (25 %ile)
Length: 22 1/4 inches (95%ile)

Ian James

2009-01-09T21:22:00.002-05:00

Ian James Fleming

Well, Ian James has made it safely into the world. It was quick, and painful, but so very worth it in the end. Jim and I went into the hospital Monday night to start my induction. I received my medication around 8:30 that night, and at that time was not dilated at all. Around 2:30 Tuesday morning, I started having contractions. Not bad at first, but they definately got stronger and closer together as time went on. They gave me some medication for the pain, and I was able to get about 3 hours of sleep. Around 6:30 Tuesday morning, the medication came out and I was able to walk the halls. This really helped the pain of the contractions. I started Pitocin at 7:30, and at that time was 1 cm and 80% effaced. I had another drug push and was able to get another 3 hours of sleep. By 10 o'clock, the pain was really bad. My doctor came in and tried to break my water, but it wasn't happening, so she said she would try again later. Around 10:45, my water broke on it's own. I told Jim, "I either wet myself, or my water just broke." Jim was very good with helping me breathe through the pain. They talk about having a focus point, but Jim's voice was mine. Finally, I asked for an epidural around noon. By this time, I was 3 cm dilated and Ian's head was down in my pelvis. The epidural really hurt. They had to do it twice, as the first one was not in the right spot. I jumped and probably screwed it up. After that, I didn't feel any pain, but I did feel the pressure every time I had a contraction. My doctor said I was contracting nicely and we'd keep an eye on me. At 4:30, she checked me again and I was still only 3 cm dilated. She decided at this time, I should go in for a c-section, because she thought he was too big for me to deliver. So, off I go for my c-section. I was scared, and did cry a little, but it was so worth it to see my little guy in the end. Apparently, everything went text book.

Ian was born at 5:12 pm, weighing in at 7 lbs, 7 ozs and was 20.5 inches long. He was much smaller than we all expected, but my doctor told me that sometime in the past week, he had flipped over and was facing up instead of down, and that his head was going back instead of tucked down and that he wouldn't have been able to be delivered vaginally anyways. So, it was a good thing I went ahead and had the c-section instead of laboring for so long and then having to have a c-section anyway. We all got back to my room and got down to being a family.

Overall, the c-section hasn't been too bad. I have pain, but I have to keep reminding myself that I had major abdominal surgery. I definately feel it when I've been lying or sitting for too long, It takes me several steps before I can stand up straight and I can't jump out of bed to care of Ian as quickly as I would like. Our hospital stay was okay, some nurses were really good, others were not good at all, but I'm really glad to be home. It would seem that we'd just get Ian quieted down and someone would barge into our room, turning on lights and wake him up and make him mad all over again. We've been home about 8 hours and we haven't had the huge crying/wailing/bloody murder that we did last night. We'll see how tonight goes.

Ian really enjoys being swaddled and loves his pacifer. He also loves being held on Mommy's or Daddy's chest. Breast feeding is getting better each day. And, it's nice to not have a nurse standing over my shoulder telling me I should be supplementing with formula because my milk hasn't come in yet. Ian does have a bit of jaundice, but the pediatrician isn't concerned about it, telling us just to set him in indirect sunlight to help. Both of us have follow up appointments with our doctors on Monday. I think that will be Jim's last day off, which is good, since I'm not supposed to drive while I'm taking the Percocet.

2009-01-06T17:12:00.001-05:00

Ian's Birth Stats

Weight: 7 lbs, 7 ozs (20th %ile)
Length: 20.5 inches (90th %ile)