The Post In Which You are Tired of Looking At Pictures of Our Family.

So. That was a fun post to leave up for nearly a week, huh?
Since the past few have been so serious and I've been so behind on posting pictures, this post is almost entirely dedicated to pictures of what we've been doing for fun around these parts lately.
Earlier this month, my mom, dad, Jes, Caleb, Piper and I packed up and went to the Dallas Arboretum. We had so much fun wandering around and checking out the pretty scenery. We got a few cute pictures to.

Caleb sitting on a pumpkin. After this picture, taken as we had just walked in the door, he felt like he needed to sit on EVERY pumpkin and have his picture taken. Silly boy.
















There was also a little hut on the grounds where they had lots of dried chilis hanging from the ceiling. It was a place to go in, so Caleb loved it and had yet another picture taken.
















This is just the best picture of Caleb, I wish Piper was looking up too. It's cute, nonetheless.















Us.

















Our boy in the pumpkins.

















"Mama, come get me!!!" This is the face and posture I see from Piper on a regular basis when she is trying to get to me from someone else.


















Jes and his mini-me.
















There is this pretty fountain on the grounds and they turn it into a pumpkin throwing area. If you can reach a pumpkin and pull it out you can throw it. All the boys got into the action and took a turn. My dad was nice enough to fish a couple out so Caleb could do it too.


















Jes throwing a pumpkin and Caleb "helping".


















All of us in front of a pumpkin made of impatients/pansies/who knows...




















I still can't remember what this contraption was called, my dad knew, but I do remember that it was use to plant seeds.


















My dad teaching Caleb and little something about hard work.


















Yet another of Piper's priceless expressions. She looks like I interrupted a conversation between her and her daddy.
Last Friday, I packed up the kids and we made our annual trek to the pumpkin farm just north of us in Celina. It was really cold that day, so we were able to get pictures that looked a little more "fallish" than the ones at the Arboretum




















Caleb and Piper waiting for my to get all our stuff together so we could go. Can you tell Caleb was excited? He had been talking about this all week, and really still is.
















We finally made it and after convincing Caleb that he was indeed too big for his old stroller, I bundled Piper up and plopped her in. I was unsure how she would do in it, but there was no way I was going to try to maneuver the sit and stand stroller over the hill and rocks that exist at our favorite pumpkin patch. Turns out, she loved her new ride and actually fell asleep at one point.
















The cats at the pumpkin patch see so many people that they are super friendly. Our cat, Gus, is just like a normal cat and only lets you pet him on his terms. Caleb was thrilled that this cat just sat there and let him pet him.

















On the hay bales.

Driving the tractor. Last year, this was the source of the pumpkin patch time out. This year, he hopped right off when I told him his time was up and the next person wanted their turn. Good boy!

Feeding the goats.

The sheep that stole his food. This guy made my guy cry. Stupid sheep.

Feeding the longhorn! You guys knew that I had to get this shot!

Caleb and Piper. My babies.

Caleb and his friends on the atv.

All of us before the melt down.

We went on the hay ride and I just could not figure out why Caleb was posing so much with this little guy next to him. Turns out, it is one of the 2 Jackson's in his class at school.

Us on the hayride. Minutes before it all broke loose and Piper started screaming and Caleb couldn't handle it anymore.

Caleb picking out his pumpkin to take home.

Last shot of the 2 of them.

Caleb with the turkey.














Sunday, we decided to get the pumpkin seeds and roast them. Jes had to take the top off because I couldn't get it off without nearly taking my hand off in the process.

Digging out the insides.

Getting all the seeds.

The pumpkin carvers.

This has nothing to do with our fall outings, it's just Caleb's first cake that he made. I wanted to preserve a picture for posterity so that someday he could look back and say that he indeed knows how to bake. Well, at least from a box!

The State of The Preschooler

So I have heard from a bunch of you, but I know that a lot of you are wondering what in the world is going on in our home. Here's the story.
Thursday, I got that infamous call from the director of Caleb's Mother's Day Out program. She told me some things over the phone that ended up being not totally true, as she was getting second hand information and tends to assume things. Caleb's teacher, Miss S, told me that he has been having meltdowns and that on Thursday, he got so angry that he was literally on the floor kicking/screaming/hitting/everything you can imagine to his beloved teacher, Miss J.
S told me that he does not want to lie down during nap time, but that he has to (it's state mandated here in Texas for them to have a rest period). I understood this and knew that they had been having trouble keeping him lying down on his nap mat during this time, but thought he was just sitting up and maybe wandering around a little. Come to find out he will be running laps around the room while they chase after him. Here's where it gets to be an issue, this has been going on since the first day of school! NO ONE TOLD ME ABOUT THIS FIT THROWING! As you can tell, I'm furious over this because they have essentially decided that they are going to try to raise my child and have no intention of including me in the process of discipline. As I told some of you, I feel as if my parental responsibilities and duties have been stripped by someone who doesn't have the right to do that. I am his mother, I make the ultimate decisions. Not them. Ok, enough on that.
S actually looked at me at one point and said, "there is a part of Caleb that we are not reaching". She started saying words to me like autism, sensory integration disorder, testing, special education, etc. All things that no one wants to hear about their child. Caleb is VERY bright, the brightest in his class (so says his teachers) and they expressed concern about him losing that if this was not resolved. We certainly don't want him to lose anything he has learned either, but we got to thinking about his behavior at school and his behavior elsewhere. We decided to talk to his other teachers.
On Mondays, Caleb goes with me to MOPS and is in a class with other kids his age. No problems there. His teacher told me that he was pushing a little at the beginning of the year, but they have been able to resolve that problem and he does not do that anymore. They have been very proactive and can tell when he starts to get a little upset and will just redirect him. That has worked.
On Wednesdays, Caleb goes to the church with me while I watch the babies during Bible study. Same song and dance as in MOPS.
Sundays, he is in Sunday School. Same thing. See a pattern here? Evidently, this behavior is only occurring at school. Everything else that he has done has been what has been called normal 3 year old behavior. We are at a loss as to what to do now. We have scheduled a evaluation with our school district, but the soonest they could get us in is the 20th of November. We saw his pediatrician today who says he in no way has autism and that sensory integration disorder usually follows along with other things, so it's unlikely. We're still going to have him go to the evaluation, but we're more and more conviced that it will show nothing.
As you all can imagine we have run through all the stages of emotion on this thing. It has been a very difficult weekend for our family and my first inclination. Most of it, I spent in tears. My first inclination has been to take my baby and hide away with him so no one else can say things like this about him.
Sunday was a day of renewal for me as our pastor talked about forgiveness and forgiving people. I realized then and there that this, if there even is something, is not something that we did to Caleb and that he is His child and I needed to let go of it. I still have my moments of disbelief, but as our pediatrician told us today, "life has to go on and he has to continue living it". So, we are living life.
Where we are now is that we wait for our appointment with the school district. Caleb goes back to school tomorrow. I am also going to research a little into play therapy as that was recommended by the pedi. I'm calling the insurance company tomorrow to see what they will approve and what they won't. Please pray that they have someone on their books in the general area that they will pay for this.
Thank you to all of you who have sent me emails, called, checked on me and gave me much needed information, affirmation and love these past few days. I will update on things as we go along.

There Are No Words

So if you're tuning in for the update on my doctor's appointment, here it is:
I have poor posture and I have big boobs (sorry guys). That's what it boils down to. I go to PT for a couple of weeks and then get myself to Victoria's Secret after breastfeeding is done. End of story.
The day started out pretty ok with Caleb going to school this morning and Piper and I doing some shopping for the family. I was dropping off the groceries P and I had just purchased and was on my way out the door to go to the bread store (don't you love those places???) and the phone rang. I knew when I picked it up it wasn't good. It seems we, especially us moms, have a sixth sense about these things. On the other line was the director of Caleb's school. It seems there was some major issues going on and I had to go up for a conference. Some very upsetting things were said and some words were uttered that no mother wants to ever hear about their child. The meeting ended with an ugly cry session and a pamphlet for "testing". I honestly cannot go into the particulars because it's just too painful to think about. I just can't go there right now. Just pray for us and our family. When I'm up to it, I'll provide more specific details.

Oh, My Aching Back!

For as long as I can remember I have dealt with pain in my lower back. I was diagnosed with scoliosis when I was in elementary school and made the rounds with all the doctors every so often, only to be told that it wasn't severe enough to do anything about, but I would still have symptoms. From the outside, my lower back looks like it's been in a fist fight with someone with permanent bruising ruling the day. Fun, huh?
When I was pregnant with both of my kiddos, the pain would be excrutiating from time to time and especially toward the end of the pregnancy.
This time around was no different.
After Caleb it resolved to the state that it was at before I was big and pregnant, however after Piper things have not been getting any better, but have been getting worse.
(It couldn't at all have to do with that rookie anaesthesiologist digging around in my spinal column for over half and hour and after 4 sticks with that HUGE needle blaming me for being a hard stick, now could it? Oh, but that's a story for another time!)
I have been having considerable trouble sitting, bending over, sleeping, holding my baby, etc because of the pain. So, today I bit the bullet, as they say, and scheduled an appointment with a guy who specializes in spines. We'll see what he has to say on Thursday when I go in, but I'm taking Jes with me so that he can describe what he has seen back there, as I don't have a birds eye view of it all. Please pray that it is an easy fix, which means no surgery. I'll let you know waht I find out!

I'll Give You 3 Guesses Who He Is Copying and 2 Don't Count

Overheard from Caleb when he is talking to Piper:
"Hhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii"
"How are you?"
"Whatcha' doin'? Uh huh, yeah, is that so."

Overheard from Caleb when he is not happy:
"I'm mad now."
"I'm sad at your behavior!"
"That's enough!"
"I've about had enough of this from you!"

And my absolute favorite:
"Ok, that's it, I've had it. You're in trouble now! 1-2-3! Come here! (All said while spanking himself.)

Think we've had a time with him lately? He is certainly the copycat these days! I guess we really need to watch what we say...

I Promise I'm Not Avoiding You.

Ok, so my blog has been calling my name to be updated, but my computer is freaking out on me and won't let me log into blogger. That means I can't update, read comments or post a comment on anyone else's blog who has blogger. Anyone else having this issue? It's probably just me... Sigh.

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Anyway, I wanted to update on a few things. First, thank you all for praying for our sweet friends and their little girl Ruth. She has taken some miraculous steps toward healing and is almost back to what she was before this fungal and bacterial infection invaded. She is peeing lots (yeah!), will be eating again soon (double yeah!!) and is looking better and better each day. Keep her in your prayers and I'll keep updating on Ruth.



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I wanted to brag on my little girl for just a minute too. Piper is such an advanced little one, at least compared to her brother. Just 2 days after her 3 month "birthday" she rolled over! She is officially on the move. We're not sure whether to be excited or a little bit scared at the proposition of having a little one moving around so early, but we'll take it for now. She just loves watching her brother run around and dance and I guess is trying to join in. In fact, in our house, you will often see Caleb dancing in front of her just to entertain her while I'm trying to do something else.
Piper was also diagnosed with eczema lately. More on that later, but it's not too bad, thanks to some baby products that I've been using on her religiously.

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We had a super busy weekend this past weekend. This is the time of year that Jes is called away to do all the annual inspections on planes that he has done the year before. That means less time together, but more money. Good thing since the holidays are coming up! I had an Arbonne class this past Saturday and we had a great time learning about and trying out all the natural products that they have. I'm a huge fan of Arbonne and use it on the kiddos and myself. It has cleared up most of Piper's eczema and doesn't contain all those yucky chemicals and residues that the products that come from the store do. We are big believers in the stuff!!!

I think that's all I wanted to update today. We went to the Dallas Arboretum on Saturday as well, so I'll post those pictures soon! Maybe I can actually do it at home, if my computer cooperates!

Ruth **Updated**

There are many moments and things that I will forever remember about my first born’s birth. The first words from the doctor, “Oh, that’s not supposed to happen”; Jes noticing that he was having trouble breathing and the nurse whisking him away to the nursery for the first of dozens of times that first 12 hours of his life; trying to nurse him and watching him slowly turn blue, the nurse grabbing him from me and running out of my room with him; Jes sobbing in the corner after seeing him for the first time in the NICU, covered in tubes and wires, forbidding me from going to see him; the discussion we had with the Neonatologist and ENT telling us there was a major flaw in his skeletal make up of his skull and they were going to have to reconstruct his whole face; begging the doctors to do just “one more” CT scan after a night of tearfully begging God to please heal my son. All of these things, and many others, are seared into my memory, coloring that otherwise happy time for Jes and I. I will forever remember the short time we spent with Caleb in the NICU, sitting next to his isolette, just willing him to take the next breath without trouble and cheering each time he did, all the while watching the monitors like crazed maniacs. However, the thing that I remember clearer than any other is the little boy who was just across the room from Caleb. He was born the same day as Caleb, but was much too early to be in this world. Everyday I watched his mom and dad absorb more and more bad news about their son as he was poked, prodded and switched from ventilator to ventilator. I can clearly, even this day nearly 4 years from then, remember her face as we were being wheeled out of the NICU with our healthy, and HEALED!, baby while she stood in the corner after getting yet more bad news. She told me congratulations and I think I thanked her but I couldn’t and still can’t imagine the feelings she was experiencing, even though they were written all over her face. Shortly after we were discharged that little boy went on to heaven to his forever home. I supposed that is why I was SO emotional today when I received news about a friend of mine who had her baby, Ruth, just over a month ago at 24 weeks. It seems that little Ruth has a fungal infection and is not doing well at all. Please pray for little Ruth and her mom, dad and big sister as they have to endure this excruciating time in their lives.

** As of 5:30 this afternoon, little Ruth is on complete life support. They are waiting for her to pee to show that her kidneys have returned to full capacity. We are all obviously praying for healing here.**

**As of this morning, Tuesday, around 9, little Ruth is doing so much better. She has been weaned off all medication to keep her blood pressure stable, is showing signs of responding to the antibiotic and antifungal and is peeing like a champ! She is actually putting out more urine than the NICU staff have seen a baby of this size do in a long time! She is no means out of the woods yet, but she is improving significantly. Thank you for all your prayers and concern for this family. Please continue to pray for little Ruth and her family through this difficult season. I will try to update as I can. **

Month Three

This has been another big developmental month for our little Piper. One of the most obvious changes in month three was her growth. Many people comment on P's size when they see her, either she's big for her age or, more commonly, that she's tiny, but everyone always says how long she is. Piper is not very chunky at this age, just opposite from her brother, she is very long and has even progressed out of 3 month clothes and can wear 6-9 month if they aren't too big in the waist.
Piper is also very interested in sitting upright these days. She has always preferred to be held upright, looking over my left shoulder (if you ever see me holding her and she's not eating, that's the position she'll be in 99% of the time). She has been able to hold her head up since birth, but has just gained phenomenal control over it this month. P also loves to look around at everything and has been called "very attentive for her age" many times over. Back to the sitting, Piper is trying so hard to pull herself to an upright position when she's lounging in her Boppy. She is getting very close, but we have to watch her closely because she's liable to topple over if she succeeds. I keep telling her that she's going to have washboard abs if she keeps this up!
Piper recently discovered that her hands belong to her and is very interested in watching their movements. She loves to wave them around and bring them closer and further from her face just to see what they can do. We laugh because she often ends up with them between her eyes and she's cross-eyed!
This months brought a little more sleep (Praise the Lord!!!) for us in the Mathis household. We FINALLY figured out that our little princess loves her own space, so we have started putting her right into her bed when she wants to go to sleep at night and she sleeps beautifully there. Not all night, mind you, but soundly until she needs to eat.
Just a few days ago, I happened to look up and see her trying to roll over from her back to her front. I was totally surprised as the only other baby I have to compare her to didn't do this until he was 5 or 6 months old. He isn't the gold standard for motor skills though, bless his little heart. I'm afraid that this little girl of ours is going to be mobile way sooner than we would like, but if that's her schedule, then so be it. I'm enjoying this baby period while I can.
I guess one of the more exciting developments for us is that P is finally showing signs of recognizing all of us. She has always smiled at us, especially Caleb, but now she is very aware of who is around and responds to our voices. Every night when I come home from work I head straight to her to say hello and she gets SO excited, kicking and swinging her arms and smiling super big. It makes a mommy's heart happy to see that her kiddo is excited to see her!
















I had to include this picture because it again showcases how Piper adores her brother. She will smile for Caleb when she will smile for no other. If Caleb is in the room, she is watching him and sometimes fusses until he comes over to talk to her. He loves her equally as much and asks where she is if she is out of his sight. It is very sweet and exactly what I hoped for for the two of them. Caleb is the BEST big brother in the world!

Ode to Fall in Texas, Which Really Should be Called "Why I am Contemplating a Move to Arizona".

This...















(For those of you non-Texans, that would be a field of ragweed. Right down the street from my house.)


Plus this...






















(For my non-science mindedfriends out there, this is pollen. Under magnification by a really expensive microscope, of course.)


Equals this:



















Pitiful, isn't it?

















At least we have this little bundle of cuteness and smiles to get us through.

Piper's First Friend

Today Piper and I were priviledged to meet Piper's first and long awaited friend Laila Alexis Chadwick. She was born this morning just before 8 am is not just under 7 pounds. She is a tiny little bundle of cuteness and we can hardly wait to get together and play.

Laila's brother, KJ, is Caleb's best friend and we are hoping that our girls will be just as close. We are so blessed to have such great friends in our lives where our kids can grow and mature together, even if it is a tad too fast for our tastes!

Myself and Piper, Laila and Mommy Courtney (just 4 hours out of surgery looking fabulous!)

Conversations with Caleb - Part 2

Caleb: saunters into the bathroom

Mama (me): getting ready for the day

Caleb: Mama, you're hot.

Mama: Thank you Caleb. Mama is feeling cute today, and this new hair cut is really doing wonders...

Caleb: Mama, you're hot (he says as he walks to the fan and turns it on)

Mama: Oh... (Mama's feeling stupid...)

About Us

So I'm a sucker for these things and since it's not too terribly long, I thought I would just post it here!



1. Who is your man? Jes to me and Daddy to Caleb and Piper. His real name is Jesse, but I've always shortened it.

2. How long have you been together? 8 years all together, married for 7

3. How long did you date before you got married? 16 months

4. How old is your man? 31

5. Who eats more? He does, but it's nothing like he used to eat when we were younger. My grandfather used to say he had a hollow leg because he would eat and eat and stayed SO skinny. Ah, to have the metabolism of a guy in his early 20's.

6. Who said "I love you" first? Hmmm, I think he did. We kind of did it together. After knowing each other for a week. When you know, you know.

7. Who is taller? Jes is. He's 6'2" and I'm 5'10". Perfect for wearing heels!

8. Who sings better? I think he has a beautiful voice, but he would say me. We are both highly musical, so who knows.

9. Who is smarter? Depends on the topic. All things math, engineering, mechanical are all him. Anything having to do with something living (animals, humans, plants, etc.), creative stuff, is all me.

10. Whose temper is worse? Well, mine tends to come out more often, but he's got one too. Again, it depends on what is going on. We both usually are pretty calm until we get a gutful.

11. Who does the laundry? He does his and I do everyone elses. Jes has never done my laundry because the idea of having to pull things out to air dry overwhelms him a bit. However, we both will do anyone's on occasion.

12. Who takes out the garbage? That's all Jes.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do because I have a thing about sleeping on the side closest to the door. I just can't do it, so he's on that side of the bed.

14. Who pays the bills? Praise the Lord, he does. He took that over when I got pregnant. Long story...

15. Who is better with the computer? We're both equally good at researching things, but he's better at fixing it and I'm better at word processing/excel/power point stuff.

16. Who mows the lawn? Oh totally Jes. This is part of our "contract". The deal was that he would never ask me to mow the lawn and I would never wear sweatpants. So far, so good.

17. Who cooks dinner? MW- Jes because I have to be at work at 5:30. Sun, Sat, Tue, Thu, Fri- it's all me.

18. Who drives when you are together? 98% of the time he does. If he asks me to drive, I know there is something wrong.

19. Who pays when you go out? Jes usually does because I would have to dig my wallet out of the diaper bag.

20. Who is the most stubborn? Well, we are both really stubborn. Makes for fun times around here.

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? If I was wrong, me. See #20... Enough said.

22. Whose parents do you see most? Since his parents live in Oregon and we don't, that would be mine. We spend the weekend with my parents usually once every 2 weeks or so, sometimes more. I talk to them everyday though. We're all really close.

23. Who kissed who first? He kissed me first, but he sure did make me work for it.

24. Who asked who out? We met on a mission trip and had told each other we loved the other before we even rolled back into Texas, so this question is a little hard to answer. When we did go on a proper date, he asked me.

25. Who proposed? He did on the bus in the same seat where we had met on the way to Mississippi, the afore mentioned mission trip.

26. Who is most sensitive? In general, me. When it comes to our kids, probably him. I have to be the one to take care of them when they are sick and takes a little bit of detachment. When we had to take Caleb to the hospital last year and they couldn't get an IV in him, it was me who had to hold him down while Jes stood in the corner and cried. (Don't tell him I told you that.)

27. Who has the most friends? I totally do.

28. Who has more siblings? He has more blood related siblings, 2 sisters, but I have 2 step brothers and a step sister as well as 5 half brothers and sisters that I've never met.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? We try to each wear a leg. If it's a big decision, we make it together. Anything small or insignificant, whomever is in the situation makes the decision based on what is best for our family and what would benefit us all.

30. How did you meet? Again, on a mission trip to Clarksville, Mississippi. We were on the bus on the way there and someone had taken his seat, so he sat across the aisle from me. We've been together ever since.

First Day of School 2008

Today was Caleb's first day back to Mother's Day Out, or what we call school.

Caleb started the morning with a leisurely breakfast of banana, a Quaker breakfast cookie, apple juice and a little Elmo. This is as good as it gets for breakfast around the Mathis household. I don't cook in the mornings, and in fact, I can't even make normal breakfast foods like pancakes, eggs, etc. Ok, back to my child... Anyway, this was followed by a quick shower and dressing in his clothes for the first day.

Everyday Caleb HAS to hold Piper. Today was no different. He looks so grown up in this picture, doesn't he? Sniff.

I know this is the same shot, but I had to include this one for one reason, look at what Piper is doing with her arms. Anyone who knows Caleb knows that this is his position. It looks like he passed it on to his sister!

Caleb and Piper talking and laughing. She so adores her brother that she will smile for him when she won't smile for anyone else.

Look at that look of adoration on her face. I'm enjoying it while I can because I know soon enough they will be screaming at each other.

Caleb trying to show off his Cars backpack. He's still perfecting the over the shoulder look.

My big boy ready to go!

First Day of School 2006.

First Day of School 2007.

It Has Officially Happened...

Ok, so I'm not getting the mother of the year award today either. I was pumping (I know more information that you wanted to know, but it is part of my excuse for this whole thing happening) while watching the latest recorded episode of Project Runway. Piper was right in front of me on her boppy and Caleb was happily talking to her. At some point Caleb either hit, poked, bit or something to Piper and she started screaming bloody murder. I knew that there was some sibling rivalry, but I didn't really think that Caleb would do anything to her. I know it's normal, but it rattled us. While Piper was upset, Caleb ran away crying, just as upset as if it had been done to him. He self-exiled himself to his room for the next 20 minutes and then was very penitent when he wanted to come out. Maybe this won't happen again anytime soon...

Stats

I guess I should have waited to post my last entry so that I could have combined all this with it. Oh well, I suppose it makes it a little more manageable.
Piper had her 2 month check up with the doctor today. Here are the stats from that visit:

Weight: 12lb 8.5oz
Height: 23.5 inches
Head: 15 3/4 inches

She got 3 shots today as well as the normal checks, which were all good. On top of that she got an oral dose of Rotateq to help keep her from getting RotaVirus. Good thing since Caleb starts school a week from today and will be tracking in who knows how many germs and bugs. This was not something that Caleb ever got because it came out after he would have needed to get it. Piper sucked the medicine down like a champ and the nurse even commented on how well she took it, not spitting out a drop. I suppose Piper is going to be like her brother and not be difficult to give medicine. Like I suspected, Piper screamed bloody murder when she got the shots, but was quickly soothed with a little loving, a bottle and a very fast trip home. She is now passed out next to me in her Boppy happily dreaming of her next meal.

Month Two

This has been a big month for our little girl. She has grown and matured in so many ways that it's hard to find a place to start. Piper is much more alert now and spends more time awake than she did this time last month. She has a semi-schedule of being awake after each feeding for around 30-45 minutes and will play and laugh and smile during this time.
















While she would smile in her sleep last month, this month she will do it when she sees one of us. She is very smiley after each feeding and never fails to give us one of her big, open-mouthed smiles that tells us that she is happy to see us. She always has one for her big brother and is promptly rewarded by him smothering her with hugs or kisses.

When Piper is awake, she loves to play and talk. This month has given way to the discovery of her voice. Caleb and I spend our days having "conversations" with Piper and it really sounds like she is trying to talk back to us. She still loves to stretch and flail somewhat, but is gaining some control of her hands and loves to play on her mat. You will often catch her batting at things just to see what would happen.
Piper is very much like her brother in that she does not like to be confined unless someone is holding her to get her to sleep. She has not let me swaddle her for sometime now but loves her footy pajamas and will not sleep without them.
















I think I posted last month about Piper not liking her swing, but the past few weeks has seen a complete turn around on this. There have been nights when she has slept for most of the night in her swing because we just couldn't get her to sleep anywhere else. Piper LOVES sleeping on her stomach and I just cannot let her do that at night when I can't supervise her the whole time. It's one thing for her to do that when I'm sitting right next to her, but it's quite another for her to sleep on her tummy all night. Mama's got to sleep at some point.
While we're on the subject, sleep is at a premium here still. Piper has, on occasion, made a 5 hour stretch at night between feedings, but most of the time we're still feeding her every 3 to 4 hours. Needless to say, we're all pretty wiped here in the land of Mathis. Please be kind if you see us out in public and we act stranger than normal.





















Piper was none to thrilled with her first bath, but over the past month she has developed quite the love for the water. I think she would stay in the bath for hours if I let her. There hasn't been a time when she has been in the bath or getting her massage afterward when she hasn't had smiles for me!





















We also broke out the Bumbo seat this month (ok, really just today!). Piper has been able to hold her head up since her birth, but she really has great control of it now. She is starting to gain control of her upper body as well, so I thought I would try her in this seat and she loved it! I think she just really enjoyed seeing the world in a new light.
Piper is just the sweetest little girl that we could ever have hoped for and we have had a great 2 months with her!

You Made Me Do It.

An open letter to all who admire me in public:
Dear Everyone,
When you approach us at the mall, grocery store, church, doctor's office, etc, please know that I really love the attention. It is so much fun to flirt and smile at a face that doesn't belong to those crazys who live with me. However, I have just one request of you. Please, please look at me and all the things that are around me. If you will notice I am almost always dressed in pink. I NEVER leave home without a bow, and usually quite a large one, on my little head. My car seat is pink and brown and my name is most certainly a girl name. Oh, and while we are on the subject, have you ever known a boy with my name? It is a GIRL'S name!
Anyway, back to the subject at hand. My mama has been quite upset lately by all the times you have called me a boy, despite all the evidence to the contrary. The other day she bought me this:


















Hopefully, this will help with all the confusion!
Love and kisses always,
Piper

Please Watch Where You Are Going, Thank You Very Much.

My oldest brother, Mitchell, who has been a police officer for 25+ years, many of them a motorcycle cop, was hit by a man who was not paying attention yesterday. While he was on duty. Riding his motorcycle. He's ok, just really banged up. Evidently, this guy was not paying attention and tried to turn left while Mitchell was going straight. So, as I said before, just look where you are going. I'm sure that man will.
















my 2 brothers and sister from left to right: Michelle and myself (sitting), Mitchell and Damon (standing)

What Are They Teaching Our Kids?

"Having a heart beat is very important if you want to stay healthy."
As seen on Max and Ruby (Caleb's favorite cartoon). My reply, "ya think?"

Just Some Random Pictures and Equally Random Commentary

I suppose I could blame my lack of posting lately on the very busy 3 year old and 6 week old I spend my days and nights with, but really it's just been that I don't really have anything super interesting to write about. I mean come on, who wants to hear abou all the pull-up/diaper changing, time out placing, pumping, feeding, burping, etc that I do all day long? I guess the most exciting thing to happen around here is my appointment as creative actvities director for our MOPS (mothers or preschoolers) group.
A week and a half ago.
When all the others got the job in May.
With a budget I have to stick to.
And nothing was planned.
Did I mention the meeting I have Wedneday night where I have to present the whole years worth of activities/crafts?
Do you think I've been busy?
Oh yeah, and I go back to work in 8 days where I have to educate our future healthcare professionals. So, in honor of my lack of something to talk about, here are the pictures I took over the last few days.


















Piper LOVES her tummy. I usually let her nap this way if I can sit by her and keep an eye on her. This is totally new for us because Caleb couldn't stay in this position for more than 30 seconds withou being in tons of pain from his severe reflux.






















A daily occurance for Piper. She loves going out and doing things, but if you put her in her carseat and don't start moving right away she starts squawking. I guess she thinks we'll forget her.

















Piper and myself with Dr. Robins, my fabulous ob/gyn.

















I'm not the only one who is tired around here. He literally was asking for a sucker as he climbed in the chair and laid down like this. He slept this way for over an hour and then I had to unfold him.

No Poop Equals No Go

On Friday I posted that we were going to start thickening Piper's feeds with Simply Thick to help counteract possible reflux. We started with the first feed after we arrived home from the doctor on Friday afternoon and continued through Saturday morning. Sometime around 9am I realized that Piper had not pooped since Friday, around noon. This is distressing for a 6 week old who is being breast fed and is used to doing her business before and after each feed. We stopped the Simply Thick Saturday morning and waited to see what happened. It took until later Sunday afternoon before things were moving again. Needless to say, we had a very unhappy baby this past weekend and a very tired Mommy and Daddy (especially Daddy since he has weekend duty!). We're going to wait on the meds right now as Piper doesn't seem to be in any real distress and I'll mention this whole thing at her 2 month appointment.

Photo Shoot

Piper had a photo shoot this morning with a good friend of mine whose has just started her own photography business. Go on over to Melissa's website at http://www.capturedwhispers.com/ and check out some of her other work!

Pulmonologist Appointment

Today, I took both kiddos to the pulmonologist, Caleb for his 4-6 month check up and Piper to be seen to squash my mommy anxieties. With all the trouble we have had with Caleb, I wanted to make sure that she is indeed as healthy as we have been told she is. So I took her right to the source, the specialist.
Based on what I told our pulmonologist, it is pretty apparent that Piper is refluxing somewhat. Not a surprise, really. However, our doctor is not one to jump right to meds if there is another way to fix or treat the problem without them. So, we are going to start thickening Piper's feeds. If you remember, we had to do this for Caleb until he was 2 for his aspiration issues, so we're pros at how to use the stuff and will be starting the thickening agent with the next feed. Hopefully, this will help with the issue and we won't have to start on the medication quite yet.
Piper was also weighed and had her length measured at this appointment and is coming in at 11lbs 6oz and 22 inches.
Caleb is well, according to the doctor, and we go back in December to see the doctor again.

I Admit It...

Ok, so I'm going to go ahead and admit it, we have a strong willed child on our hands. The child I speak of, since I have to differentiate now, is Caleb. I have tried to attribute his horrible attitude and terrible ability to follow directions to age, gender, lack of nap, hunger, thirst, nervousness, etc. I guess I just haven't wanted to admit that he's one of "those kids". You know that ones I'm talking about. The kids who won't obey anyone, no punishment affects, and could care less about how their actions affect others. So, I admit it, I have one. I have a strong willed child. Can someone help?

PS Please take into account that this post is a long time coming and is just me getting it out after he has terrorized me all day and ended it by throwing a full glass of ice water onto his sleeping sister, in a crowded restaurant. Then he laughed. help.

Month One

Piper is officially one month old now. This past month has been filled with lots of fun and exciting things for Piper. She has been able to hold her head up on her own since birth, but is now getting pretty good control of both it and her upper trunk. She has smiled at me a few times and is pretty happy most of the time, as long as she's not hungry. Piper has also laid claim to her Daddy and is the most serious of all the Daddy's girls that I have seen. She is also very enamoured by her brother, who never loses and occasion to kiss, hug or tell her he loves her.

Health-wise, Piper is just as normal as can be. She is eating every 3 hours and sleeping well at night. She has more awake time during the day and is quite happy to either have tummy time or just watch Caleb and I do what we do during the day. Piper also loves to go and do things with the rest of us and has been out and about since the day after she and I left the hospital.

We think that Piper might have an umbilical hernia and she is starting to show signs of a little reflux, but we've been down that road before and are confident that we can deal with it. We have seen the ENT as well and her tongue, while it looks a little tight, she isn't tongue tied and doesn't need to have anything done about it yet.

We are very blessed to have Piper in our lives and family and are having the best time with her!