From the other side...

There are always so many sides to every occasion, event, argument, or decision. I have known so many people who have come to tell me a loved one is sick. I always respond with I'm sorry and tell them that I can pray for them and I think to myself I can't imagine what that is like and I always wished I would know what to do for people. Knowing what to do for others has never come easily for me.

Well, now I find myself on the other side. My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer two weeks ago. You don't have to know me very long to know my mom is one of my best friends and family is just a "little" important to me even though I live far away. Not a day goes by we don't talk on the phone. 

I have struggled with how to tell people because I am not sure how to respond. How do you tell people when they are just going to have so many questions no one has the answers to? I also don't like to bring other people down and telling them what is going on doesn't exactly brighten someone's day. It's also awkward to then change the conversation. There are times I can talk about it and not cry at all but then there are the times the smallest thought brings out the "ugly cry." It feels wrong when I can say it and it doesn't upset me but then I wonder if its just me putting it off and not addressing the situation. I always thought if I was in that situation I would then be able to help others but I'm now there and I have no clue where to begin.

So here is what I do know...
1. My family is strong and are being so understanding that I can't be home right now.
2. My mom is being taken care of by someone with more power than any of us. God knows how amazing she is and He is with her.
3. I can say I am humbled by the number of people praying for my mom and our family everyday. I am inspired by the stories of survival and appreciate hearing about the paths people have taken to remission. 
4. Through all of this I never once want to lose my faith in God that he will provide and lead the doctor's and our family to make the right choices and get us through this.

These song lyrics were on in the car this morning and this afternoon when I first got in the car. Thinking about them led me to put my thoughts down about today.

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change a heart
Do I live like Your love is true

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

~Angela

Month 8: Busy, Busy, Busy

Another month has flown by and our little guy barely stops to eat! Landon does not skip a beat. He crawls everywhere and I love getting me to follow him from his room into the living room and playing peek-a-boo as we turn the corners. Landon loves this game too as long as the hair dryer or my brush are not in sight! Landon's other favorite toy this month is the wooden rod that is used to keep the sliding door closed. He will make his way through many toys to get to this and will find a way to get around anything we try to use to block his way. He has also pulled himself to a standing position once and can now easily go from sitting to crawling.

Over Spring Break we celebrated David's 30th birthday! Landon was my partner in crime as we set up several surprises for Daddy including a suprise visit from Grandma and Grandpa Reeves. David was shocked to be at dinner and see his parents walk into the restaurant. They were then able to stay with us for a few days and were a huge help! We put together the jumperoo and the walker. Landon loves the walker and was able to move in it almost immediately!

For Easter we had 4 families to our house and had a fabulous dinner. It was a lot of fun and having 4 kids under 18 months kept us all moving!

The weather this month has also been wonderful allowing us to introduce Landon to the outdoors. Unfortunately he has received his mom's allergies but he is a trooper and enjoys being outside. Last weekend we also had my cousin Blake in town and we hiked the 5 mile Noland trail with Landon on David's back. He also went to his first little league game sporting his baseball clothes and Cubs hat!

Being home for Spring Break made me wish for Summer to get here even sooner!

8 Months Old Today!

Reverse....Beep, Beep, Beep!

And we are on the move! Although this was the first month we did not travel or have visitors here we have certainly been on the move playing and figuring out how to get around. Landon is just weeks away from crawling and has spent most of this month scooting backwards and getting angry he is not moving forwards. His other signature move when not rolling over this month is pivoting around in a circle.  In the mornings he loves exploring aound the dresser and entertainment center while David and I get ready for work.

While the reverse title is for Landon moving backwards we have also gone in reverse on how often Landon sleeps at night and needs to be fed through the night. We are working on both of these as we head into month 8.

 

In other news....

1. We now have 2 teeth! There were a few rough nights and lack of appetite but we have our first two teeth on the bottom.

2. He rolled over in his crib about 2 weeks ago for the first time and as of yesterday is no longer swaddled when he sleeps. He is all over his crib now when he sleeps and prefers sleeping on his belly. 

It is crazy to think 7 months have gone by already while at the same time I can't imagine my life without Landon. He is so happy all the time and I can't wait to spend my spring break with him in just two weeks.

Just a little taste of his personality if you can see the smirk on his face!

Month 6: Rolling over makes me hungry!

6 Months Already!

Our 6 month checkup went great! Landon now weighs 15lb. 8oz. and 27 inches long. He is at the 13th percentile for his weight, 50% for height, and 95% for head circumference. He is definitely a little guy but growing so doctors are not worried.

This month we introduced fruits and vegetables. Landon loved trying new fruits and vegetables. Peas were the only thing he hated from the start and after a few tries he has decided mangoes aren't the best either. I was surprised at just how easy making baby food was!

We are not sitting up on our own yet. When playing He is specific about which toy he wants and will stretch and begin to scoot to grab what he wants.

Landon is now moving A LOT! Here are a few of his signature moves...

• Rolling back to front and front to back several times to get across the room
• Roll to anything that is not a child's toy (wires by the TV, under the chair)
• Pulling off my socks

• Attempting to roll over on his changing table to grab his light

• Bouncing in his jumperoo (we can now touch the floor)
• Blowing raspberries right as food enters his mouth so it goes all over mom or dad

and the BEST move of the month....WAVING at mom or dad! 

For the Super Bowl we were invited to the Great Wolf Lodge by our good friends John and Leah. We  had a great time...but Landon did not enjoy the water as much as he enjoyed sleeping by the pool and watching the halftime show.

This month we also had a special visit from mom, Dave, Jimmy and Katrina. We took our first trip to the VA Air and Space Museum and had a lot of fun!

6 Months Old Today!

My friends at the sitters.

Stay tuned for a few videos...I am having trouble uploading them!

Month 5: On the road again...



This past month has felt really long but maybe that is just because we have been traveling and busy but it all has been a lot of fun! We began the month heading to New York for Christmas. Tyler was such a great big cousin and loved taking care of Landon. He was quick to run to him if he was ever crying. Landon also loved watching Tyler play and we are sure they have plans to get into trouble together next summer. This past weekend we traveled to North Carolina to visit Uncle DJ.

 Landon will roll over from tummy to back all the time now and you can tell he is thinking about moving to get his toys but still has decided he doesn't quite need them that badly yet. We started cereal this month and we are working on getting more in his mouth than on our clothes. landon is perfect at blowing raspberries right as the spoon enters his mouth.

He is very alert and is always focused on something in the room. He LOVES his jumperoo and is interested in many of the toys that are on it. His feet just barely touch the ground and he will occasionally make himself move. He continues to love to talk, laugh, and flirt and I am sure those traits will continue for many years to come. He can sit up on his own for a few seconds but his head still causes him to topple over. It's amazing how he gets stronger everyday!

David was able to take 2 weeks off at Christmas and I had time off so we have really enjoyed all the extra time this month with Landon. Summer can't come soon enough but work is going well and Landon enjoys being at the sitters.

5 months old today!

Ready for Church the Sunday before Christmas

I'm DONE with this!

Month 4: Can you hear me now?

First Flight!

This month has flown by! We took our first flight to Oklahoma for Thanksgiving. The Baby Bjorn carrier and the Boppy pillow were must haves during the flight. Landon did great on all the flights. David and I were able to attend an OU football game which was a lot of fun despite being very wind and cold. While in Oklahoma he was able to meet lots of friends and get spoiled my Grandma and Grandpa Reeves!

This month has been all about talking and playing with his hands! Landon is either talking away or drooling from having his hands in his mouth. David swears he is on a mission to get the whole fist in his mouth at once. The latest favorite pasttime is to grab his pants and pull them up as seen in the picture below. Grabbing his toes is also fun while getting changed!

Landon still loves his play mat and will now purposely reach for the items hanging. He is also learning to sit up in the Bumbo really well. Maurie the Moose still accompanies us everywhere.

Landon is now rolling over from his tummy to his back. He has done this a handful of times.  He loved going to pick out the Christmas tree and even saw his first fireworks at Hollydazzle a few weeks ago.

At our 4 month checkup Landon now weighs 13 lb. 12 oz. and is 25 in. long. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a wonderful start to 2012!