Da-da

As I mentioned in a previous post, Jason got a new job. He is now a welding instructor at UA Fort Smith. This is exciting for lots of reasons, but one BIG one is that he now gets to spend more time with Lawson. It will vary each semester, but right now he spends about two hours a day just him and Lawson through the week and doesn't teach on Friday either. This is huge!! And, you can tell it's already made them even closer than they were already. 

Jason LOVES his sweet boy, and Lawson LOVES him some Da-da time too. The past couple of weeks Lawson has really started reaching for you when he wants you. For the most part, Jason can't walk by without Lawson smiling and reaching for him. They have so much fun together. I just know these two will be even more inseparable as the years go by. I'm so thankful for a great husband who is a great Dad too!!

The Seven Month Mark

Lawson hit seven months on August 6. Here are pics from that weekend. He's just getting so big!!! Sitting up by himself and everything.

I sort of stay in shock at how quickly my sweet baby is growing up. What a blessing he is!!!

Cousins: Addison

I hope to post about Lawson and all of our family as much as possible. Let's start with Addison. 

Addison is my youngest sister's little girl. The eldest grandchild in our family. She has spent some days "helping" my mom with Lawson in the past months, so I thought I would share some photos of them together.   The truth is she really is helpful. She LOVES to make Lawson laugh, and he LOVES watching her try. She can make him laugh like just about no other. She does things, and he laughs hard and loud. The rest of us try to do the same stuff...fail. I think she just has a way with younger children. My nephew Jevin (will post about him at a later date) thinks Addison hung the moon too. 

Here they all are at Addison's preschool graduation this summer. What a good looking bunch! 

Trying to sing Lawson to sleep. She had a hard time with this because some of the songs she wanted to sing had hand motions and she said she couldn't sing them while she was holding him because she couldn't move her hands. So silly. 

Going for a walk.

Play time with Daddy/Uncle Jason. 

I love this one because you can tell they are both having SUCH a good time. I'm not sure Lawson needed sparkly feather boas, but I guess that's what happens when you play with silly girls. She just wanted to share.

Addison has told me that she just LOVES it when Lawson laughs out loud, but that when he cries and sticks his bottom lip out and gets really upset, it "just breaks my heart!"

The Mall

I'm a little behind on posts, but back in July, my mom met me at the Central Mall Food Court for lunch with Lawson and my niece Addison.

It was good to see my sweet boy in the middle of my day and get to feed him his lunch, but it was super hard to go back to work that afternoon. Man, I love this boy!!

The Post I Don't Want To Post

The last week of June (I know that was months ago) Lawson got sick. This was the first time he'd been anything but happy and healthy since birth. I know kids get sick. We all do. But, when MY baby got sick, it was terrible!! Turned out he just had a "summer virus" as the doctor described it. Apparently there were a couple going around. It started with just fussiness and not sleeping well (like up every two hours, which is not really like Lawson). Then after a couple of days, he started running fever (102). It was the middle of the night, and he just felt so hot! He was miserable, and all I could do was give him Tylenol and rock him. First thing the next morning I got him in to see the doctor. He was such a good boy, as usual, but was so lazy and sleepy and just wanted to lay against my chest.

He ran fever and was just miserable acting for two days then the fever broke and he seemed like he was on the mend. Seemed.

I went back to work after being home with him for two days. By lunch time, I was on the phone with the doctor's office trying to get another appointment. I had talked to my mom and Jason, and they both agreed that Lawson just seemed very lethargic and very much not himself. He didn't seem to want to eat and was super fussy. By the time I got home he was covered with a blotchy rash (which the doctor had actually warned us about...but still). After several phone calls to the pediatrician and our regular family doctor, I ended up having to take him to ProMed. Turns out the doctor there was FANTASTIC! He reassured me that it was a virus and that the rash was another sign it was running it's course. Thank the LORD! By the next morning, he was feeling much better. 

The rash hung around for another day or so, and we spent plenty of time at home getting rest. My mom was actually on vacation the following week, so I was already scheduled to be off work. So thankful for that extra time with my sweet boy once he was feeling better.

I have gone back and forth on if I would post about this or not. In the end, I've decided that I want it documented for when I print the blog book, and it's important to acknowledge the valleys so the mountains seem that much sweeter. We have been blessed with a happy, HEALTHY little boy, and we are so thankful.

Thank you LORD for our boy!!

Another Favorite Thing...

I realized last night that I left out one of the pictures of fun stuff in Lawson's room. I actually just finished this a week ago, and am pretty happy with how it turned out. This is above his bed:

The first day I put these up, we brought Lawson into the room to see if he would notice. He couldn't stop staring at them. Then the next morning when I got him out of bed, that's the first place his eyes went and he just smiled. Sweet boy.

Mandy

Lawson's Room: Some of My Favorite Things

I realized last week that I never posted final pictures of all the fun stuff in Lawson's room, so here are some of my favorite things:

The completed alphabet wall. It just makes me happy every time I see it.



Books!!! Most of these are from one of my baby showers. Guest brought a book for Lawson in lieu of a card. Lawson LOVES to be read to, which makes this Momma very happy. The shelves these books are on were made by my Dad, and I love them. They are functional and beautiful and will be something Lawson can use for MANY years to come.



This was my gift for Mother's Day. I love it, and Lawson just gets the biggest grin on his face every time he sees it.

This is Lawson's laundry basket. It was a gift from Carla's Mom (my second mom). She made the liner to match the bedding.

I love this photo of Jason and Lawson. And I love this frame. These two are best buddies!

This hangs above the changing table. The letters where made by my sweet friend Katie K. and used as a banner at the baby shower she co-hosted. My Dad and step mom matted and made a frame for them. They are perfect in Lawson's room!!

Last but certainly not least: the bedding! My amazing friend Carla made this (even the sheet). The first picture is what I gave her to work from. You should know that she didn't use a pattern. Just whipped it up all on her own.

Here's how it turned out!!!! I could not be more pleased. (PS If you need baby bedding or a super awesome cake, let me know and I'll get you Carla's info...shameless plug I know. That's what friends are for.)

I love Lawson's room, and I think he does too. Thanks to all who helped in one way or another to make it come together.

Mandy

The Professor???

Can anyone guess what the two following pictures are?

Ok. Yes, it's a khaki button up shirt. But, did you notice it says UAFS Welding Technology? This will be Jason's new work "uniform" (of sorts). I am thrilled and VERY proud to announce that Jason will be teaching welding technology at UA Fort Smith beginning in fall 2012!!!

Five years ago, Jason worked at Whirlpool. He took a layoff and came to UA Fort Smith to pursue a degree in welding back in 2008. He graduated in May 2010. He has worked as a welder for the past two years and now gets to come back and teach in his field.

I'm so excited to have Jason on campus. To be honest, I'm not sure how much we'll actually get to see one another, but he'll be here. Just the same. I'm so proud of him!!!

Mandy