A Very Clean Baby!

Cute picture, huh? A very clean Jessie! Holly had put her in there,
because she was trying to do some work in the laundry room, and Jessie
kept crawling to the toilet or being underfoot. So, Holly put Jessie
in the washer tub, which occupied Jessie happily because of the tub's
movement back and forth (NOT on a wash cycle, but just the natural tub
movement, obviously).

Also tonight, Jessie fell asleep while Holly was feeding her. It was
the cutest sight!

Go back a couple of days. I have updated the blogpost to show the neat
picture of Jessie and Dad that I had previously mentioned.

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

Stunt Baby

On Memorial Day the three of us enjoyed an early breakfast at our favorite place, Cracker Barrel. Larry and I are fond of this particular location because we ate there the night before Jessie was born. Jessie and I had a grilled bacon and cheese sandwich, corn, and an apple brown Betty. The manager talked to us that night because we helped down the restaurant. He still remembers us and enjoys seeing lil' Jessie grow. He has two children of his own.

After breakfast we returned home to meet Sheila to help clean our home. What a great job she did as I definitely need help with this. I can now enjoy spending time with my family and not worry too much about those other tasks. My first order of business will be to teach Jessie safety. Yesterday she had so much fun playing. She hopped up on her rocker/rider that plays music and teaches numbers, alphabet, etc... Normally she won't sit on it. She likes to stand beside it and steer the wheel to play music. She not only straddled the seat and rocked, but she stood up on the seat like a motorcycle stunt driver. I guess she likes living on the adventurous side like us. Pre-Jessie, Larry and I would ride 4 wheelers. She must get this adventurous side honestly!

We tried to go for a swim and got rained out earlier in the day. Jessie and I tried again that evening while Larry grilled this great chicken dinner. Jessie would only put her feet in the pool, but not her legs. She kept drawing them up to her chest as the rain water had cooled the pool too much. We retreated to a warm bath and played in there.

Holly

Memorial Day Weekend

This weekend was great (except for my illness, but that's another story). My Mom, Dad, and sister Diana came up Friday and spent two nights with us. Jessie had great fun being watched because she loves to put on a show! Everyone got to play with her quite a bit, and we were even able to get her into the pool. She loved it, and flipped water on Diana, Holly, and myself!

They also went to worship with us, and Jessie wore the outfit that Mom made for her. I think she stayed in it all day (i.e., no poopie on the clothes).

I got a great picture of Jessie and Dad looking out the window at a squirrel. Their "real" selves were just back silhouettes from the sunlight, but I could see their front reflection in the window. Really neat picture. Enjoy the picture!

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

Where did she learn this?

I came home at around 8pm last night, after another long day at work.
I quietly came in, expecting Jessie to be in bed already. When I
opened the door from the basement to the kitchen, what did I see?

I saw plastic bowls and lids EVERYWHERE. I caught a glimpse of Jessie
in the den, and said, "I wonder who could have done THIS? I wonder who
did THIS?" She looked up at me and grinned so big; it looked like a
mischievous grin, but I doubt she really understood what I was saying.

Turns out, Holly said she designed the kitchen that way. The cabinet
with the plastic bowls and lids isn't locked/difficult to lock, so
that's the one that Holly chose to put the safe stuff in. Isn't she
the smart one? :)

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

Squirrels and Photos

Larry put a wooden bird feeder with seed on our deck railing just outside the den glass door. This has caught Jessie's attention when a squirrel visits for a snack. Jessie starts snort-giggling and crawls to the door as quick as her little legs and hands will take her. She enjoys staring and smiling at the bushy tailed creature. This lasts until she can stand the excitement no more. She stands up against the glass door banging to say a happy hello to Mr. Squirrel. Then he of course runs away. Jessie winds up retreating to her den floor of toys and continues to play.

Today I took Jessie over to Jennifer Jackson's home for her 9 month pictures. Jennifer let me take a peak, and I must say they are going to be beautiful. Jessie is definitely not shy of the camera. She is all smiles most of the time. I was a little concerned how the photo shoot would turn out as she had only taken a 30 minute nap at daycare. By that time in the day she would normally have had 3 naps. Surprisingly, she did great. She is presently conked out in the carseat while I'm typing this on the computer. I have learned NEVER WAKE A SLEEPING BABY!!!!! Great words of wisdom.

I look for her to pop out another tooth soon. She has been irritable the last few days and last night she was polishing her top gums with the soft rubber top of her vitamins bottle. I keep these in the bathroom and give them to her during bathtime as they are kind of messy. I can usually give them to her in a surprise attack mode while she's playing in the bathtub and her not disagree too bad. The 1st time I tried to give vitamins to her she wretched and turned all shades of red. Aunt Diana gave me the great idea to have the pharmacist flavor them and add a bitter decreaser. This worked great. She now licks her lips after I give them to her. Thanks Aunt Diana!

Holly

Good night (for Jessie)

I didn't get to see much of Peanut last night before she went to bed. I took her to bed as soon as I got home. It took me an hour and 40 minutes to get home last night because of a wreck on the interstate. Don't think that it crossed my mind a couple of times to see what the 4x4 in my truck would do. But I resisted. :)

It has been great that Jessie sleeps so well in the nighttime now. But an unexpected "side effect" is that she wakes up a little cranky...not as happy as when we'd feed her in the middle of the night. I guess when she wakes up, she is ravenous, and thus, not happy. It's worth it though, not having to get up during the night.

I think she's also a little more happy in the afternoon, but she is usually anyway. Depends on how hungry she is. She's just like her daddy: Her tummy bone drives her happy bone.

I've got a little throat thing going on, and that's why the title is "Good night (for Jessie)". I didn't sleep well, but that's OK. I guess it is just the DayCare Crud again that Jessie so happily brings to me every now and then!

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

DaDa

For a few months now Jessie has been saying MaMa in response to our verbal prompting and sometimes just on her own. That certainly has put a huge smile on my face and heart too! We have been trying to teach her to say DaDa which she just mastered last Tuesday. Now for some funny reason when I try to prompt her to say MaMa, all that seems to come out is DaDa. I have to laugh because Larry has been such a good and patient sport waiting for his DaDa moment.
Yesterday Jessie was extremely irritable during the day so we did not do our pictures. Today was much better. She was so happy when I got her home from daycare. We played, ate dinner, played in the bathtub and nursed for bedtime. I'm glad to see that she was feeling a whole lot better today. I'll be off from work early tomorrow and have rescheduled for her 9 month pictures with our up and coming photographer friend, Jennifer Jackson. She took Jessie's 6 month pictures and did an excellent job. She is so talanted at this hobby of hers that she is starting a new career and had asked if she could use Jessie in her portfolio. Of course, Larry and I were honored and agreed.
Tonight I transitioned Jessie into her first pair of 2 piece footed Jammies. She was sooooo cute in them. They were lavender and snapped together at her pudgy waist. I hope they are comfy for her tonight. We'll ask her opinion in the morning. Sleep tight doodlebug!!!

Holly

near walking?

We were worried that Jessie was getting sick again yesterday, because she was unusually irritable and attention-seeking both Sunday and especially Monday. But by Monday evening, she was much better and playful, and enjoyed some time with her Nana and Gaga. We had them over for supper, as I had cooked a scrumptious pork roast in the crock pot. Very tender and delicious!

She slept well all night, but I think I slept with one eye open, thinking she wouldn't. Maybe she was just wanting attention, but not getting sick after all!

Yesterday, she did push her fire truck several steps, which I don't think I have seen her do before. So, walking may be just around the corner.

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

Oh yeah...

You can look at the blog and comment on it, and see all the entries in "storybook" fashion at:

http://jessiegc.blogspot.com/

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

a little less sleep

She had been doing good all week, as indicated in previous entries. But last night, she cried for a couple of hours. We're not sure why, other than lack of attention, but we have another idea or two, but those details you probably aren't interested in. :)

Holly plans to get 9 month pictures taken tomorrow (yes, we know...It's almost 10 months). She gets tomorrow off because she helped someone out by taking their call tonight from 7p to 7a.

We did a li'l movin' and shakin' tonight in the basement to make Jessie a play area down here. When the carpet was replaced at our old house, we had them save her nursery carpet, since it was only a couple months old. We spread it out down here in the basement to have a nice clean area for her to play on. Got me a little writing area looking out a window as well, on the carpet, so I could do a little writing in my bare feet.

She was quite irritable and hyper today. Again, not sure why, except for maybe disturbed sleep. She got a REALLY good nap just before worship, so I guess she was energized just in time for worship. I believe the little dumplin' woulda swung from a vine if there had been any in the auditorium. Guess I'm getting my raising back, huh, Ma?

Oh yeah...she started saying "DaDa" much more clearly today than in the past few days. She said it (unclearly) on Tuesday, but it is much better now!!!

If the attached picture works, it was taken on Easter.

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

Another good night

Jessie slept all night...again, and even slept till about 530am. Highly unusual for her to sleep that late. I told Holly that maybe...just maybe...we could sleep late on the weekends. We were making a lot of noise getting ready for work, so we are hoping that's why she awakened at 0530.

Not much else going on with her. I didn't get to see her much last PM because I got home from work late. She was just her usual playful self before bed, and settled down to sleep before I could even walk to the other end of the house, after I put her down.

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

Better night

Last night was much better. Jessie went to sleep after only a couple of minutes of crying after I put her down. She awakened at midnight, and cried for a minute, but (apparently) went back to sleep. I say "apparently" because Holly and I didn't hear anything after that! For all we know, she might have cried for two hours, but we were worn out. I doubt she cried longer than what we heard.

Even Jessie must have enjoyed sleeping all night long. We had a hard time arousing her this morning, 30 minutes past her usual self-wake-up time. And she was pleasant all during the diaper/clothing stage this AM, although that isn't terribly unusual.

Hope Jessie has already learned the art of self-soothing, because I told Holly this morning that I could get used to sleeping all night again!

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

Long night

Well, last night was a bit long. I didn't feel it until late morning when I started dragging pretty bad. You see, we are trying to teach Jessie to self-soothe, and go back to sleep. Our pediatrician has advised us that she should be sleeping all night, and gave us tips on how to make that happen.

Last night, she went to the crib, but cried for about 38 minutes (but who's counting?). That wasn't so bad, as Holly and I finally had a little time together, and enjoyed watching some television and talking.

We went to bed, and around midnight, she cranked it up again. She cried for nearly two hours; only 10 minutes of that two hours was quiet. Twice we thought she had gone to sleep, but she woke up. I did go back once or twice and just reassured her that "we were there," and hadn't left. But I didn't pick her up. I wanted to, but I didn't.

So now, Holly and I are pretty tired. Hope tonight is better, especially for Jessie. She wasn't too happy with us this morning, but oh well. Life's lessons are sometimes hard, Jessie.

On a side/personal note, I saw an old friend for the first time in a long time. Won't put his last name on here, but it was Daniel. Enjoyed talking with him. He and his wife may move from their current home to our area, maybe a little south. So, it was great to talk to him.

--
Larry Crockett
Franklin, TN
Run with whatcha brung, and hope you brung enough

Mother's Day

Today was our first Mother's Day, with an actual child in our arms. We did celebrate last year, but Holly was about 7 months pregnant. But this year, we were able to give an actual gift from Jessie (a hat with Jessie's handprint on it...really cute), and I gave her a homemade card and a corsage. Holly didn't want a gift, or so she says, so I hope I stay out of the dog house!

We ate at The Catfish House in Springfield, TN, with all the other mothers of Holly's family. Nice day. Turned off cold, but we had a good time.

Jessie wore her lavender dress today, which is my favorite on her.

Also, at worship this AM, she and Jack McMillan flirted a little bit, as Jennifer and Kevin were seated directly in front of us.


Larry