Get Out Of My Way!

It seems like Mac is becoming more and more independent every day. Perfect example...Mac and I always get to school a little early so that we can have a little playtime before it's time to drop him off. Until a few weeks ago that involved sitting on the steps outside of his room and making him laugh. It's a whole new ball game now. He loves to crawl down the hall, stand up and hit the wall, and today he even climbed 3 stairs (something he has never done before). When his teacher opened the door to let everyone in, I turned to grab his bag and when I looked back, there was Mac...crawling into his classroom! He just took off like he knew where he was going. I guess I should be thankful that he enjoys school because there is one little girl that screams every single time her Mom drops her off. My point is, he is really starting to do things by himself.

When he is crawling on the floor at home (which is usually scattered with baby and/or dog toys) Mac doesn't try to crawl over the top of the toys anymore...he actually stops, picks them up, and moves them out of his way. I know this probably doesn't sound like a major milestone, but I am just amazed to see him grow and learn! He has even started slapping my hand away when he doesn't want me to play with his toy (probably not a good habit to start). I really feel like he is starting to show some signs of independence which of course makes me happy and sad all at the same time. He is really growing faster than I could have ever imagined.
Another thing that is really growing is Mac's hair. It's starting to look like he has a shaggy little mop on his head. It's over the top of his ears at this point and he even has a few of those cute little curly fly-aways in the back. It's time for a hair cut! Unfortunately somebody won't let me cut it until he is officially 1. I try to tuck it behind his years and part it to keep it out of his eyes, but it's not going to last much longer. His birthday is on a Friday and that next Tuesday (they are closed on Mondays) he is getting it cut.

Possibility of Disaster!

I have made a decision....I am going to make Mac's birthday cake. I know, I'm scared too! The actual baking of the cake is no big deal. I anticipate the problem will be trying to decorate the thing. I went to Hobby Lobby today and bought a football cake pan and the tips/bags I need to decorate it. It looks very simple, but I am not good at decorating cakes. I have never iced a cake that looked right. Fortunately my friend Beth is going to help me so there is some hope of it looking okay. So if you show up at Mac's party and there is an unrecognizable object with a candle in it laying on the table, compliment me on the cake!
In other Mac news....he apparently had 4 teeth pop up over night. I was playing with him today and noticed 4 little white specks peeking through his gums (2 on top , 2 on bottom). I am hoping that this finding explains why Mac has been attacking me like a rabid dog the past few days.
He is also increasing his vocabulary...he now says "Bye Bye." It actually comes out sounding like "O-Bye, O-Bye" and I don't think he has any idea what it means, but he's still saying it! We are working on waving, but that one is hit or miss. If he's in the mood you get it, if not you don't.

Busy Little Bee....

The 10th month has been the busiest/most productive for Mac so far. When the month started he wasn't even really crawling and now he's standing up all by himself! We have traded in the days of lounging around the house for a full time game of chase....

Mac, at 10 months....

-You have a head full of shaggy blonde hair

-You love to give kisses (especially to Heisman)

-You not only know what "no" means, but you like to repeat it to me when I change your diaper

-You can stand up all by yourself for up to a minute!

-You are almost completely off of baby food

-You love green beans and Cheerios (yummy combination)

-You like to drink out of big people cups (beware of the backwash)

-You wear a size 5 diaper

-You wear a size 5 shoe

-You can crawl like a pro

-You weigh 22 lbs

-You like to lick Heisman...and he likes to lick you back

-You fall asleep on Daddy on the couch almost every night

Since it has been a while since I posted pictures here is a bunch for yall to see...enjoy!

Well Hello.....

Hello long lost blogging world! I think it has been a month since I've been on here! So much has happened in just the past few weeks. Mac is chatting non stop now and he is even standing up on his own! Right before Christmas he started doing what we lovingly refer to as the "sumo squat." He would just prop himself up and squat in the floor, look around, and then sit back down. Well that has turned into him just standing right up! The look on his face every time he realizes that he is standing is priceless. He is just so proud of himself...almost as proud as me. He has also learned to say "No." I don't know that I'm too terribly thrilled about that one. He has only done it a few times, but he definitely knows what he's saying. Today I was trying to change his diaper and he just kept saying "no, no, no, no!!" We have also noticed that Mac has become quite capable of telling us when he doesn't want something. The days of lounging in the Bethea house are over!

Lets rewind a little to Christmas Eve. We had our first experience with the Children's Service at church. It is actually quite comical when you realize that the preacher is giving his sermon in a much louder voice than normal to drown out the chatter, cries, and laughter of all the children. Mac was so great during the service. Something caught his attention (I think it was all the lights) and he didn't make a peep the whole time. Actually, I think it was the lights that kept him busy during his baptism as well. That night we put food out for Santa and the reindeer (Oreos, milk and veggies) and Mac got to have his first Oreo...which he loved! And then came Santa...and boy did him deliver! Mac got a Radio Flyer wagon, a tent, and in his stocking he found what every little boy needs...his first gun (not a real one). There must be something built into little boys because as soon as that gun came out of the stocking his eyes lit up! We had people over that night and had a great time. The next day we went to my grandparents house where once again, Mac was the star of the show! He really got some great toys that he loves playing with. That afternoon we went to Austin to see Eric's family. Everyone was shocked to see how much he had grown. The last time they saw him I think that sitting was his big accomplishment so to see him crawling, standing up, eating table food, and 'talking' was a whole new thing. And as great as holidays are it is so nice to have everything back to normal! Mac stayed up way to late during the holidays and didn't take enough naps so we are getting him back into the routine now...

And the bad news...our lap top is experiencing some technical difficulties so no pictures!!!! It is driving me crazy! I should hear back from them tomorrow about what is wrong so I hope to post some new pictures soon!

Happy 2010!

10 Months!

Mac is 10 months old today! And in even bigger news...he called me "Mama" for the first time! He did it the other night and it actually made me cry. He has been doing it non stop and it makes me so happy. I wanted to write another little note to Mac telling him (and I guess ya'll) everything I could think that happened in his 9th month:

Mac, at 9 months…

-You have started to eat more and more table food (you love deli meat and tomatoes)

-Your 2 front teeth are about half way in now

-You have been waking up in the middle of the night almost every night for the last 2 weeks, but you go right back to sleep.

-You have turned diaper changing into a full on wrestling match

-Your favorite thing to snack is Ritz Crackers

-You are not allowed to eat Mum Mums anymore because you were shoving the whole thing in your mouth and chocking!

-You wear 9-12 month clothes now

-You have started to be a little afraid of strangers (especially men!)

-You love it when bath time rolls around. You love to play with the measuring cups

-You have really started crawling and you like to throw in a little hop

-You can pull up on anything!

-You love to stand up in your crib and jump

-You weigh 21 pounds and are 29 1/2 inches

-You have tried to take a few steps and have some bruises to show for it

-You take toys away from your puppy

-You get very sad if your puppy gets in trouble

-You learned how to say "Ma ma" 2 days before you turned 10 months old

-You love to yell “Da Da” all the time now

-You are the greatest gift that your Daddy and I have ever received

Snow Day

As most of you know, I HATE cold weather! I have never enjoyed it. I would much rather be sitting on a beach somewhere soaking up some sun than anywhere where the weather is below 70 degrees. All that being said, this past Friday was really fun. I was in the car taking Mac to school when I noticed the snow starting to fall. I thought about having to pick him up that afternoon and I changed my mind and headed back home...and I am so glad I did! I know Mac will never remember it, but I actually had fun bundling him up and taking pictures in the snow.
Saturday morning I took Mac to get a picture with Santa. I had a feeling that it would not go well because this past week Mac has been very clingy and having a little bit of seperation anxiety...so throwing him in a strangers lap sounds like a good idea right? I took him to the Bass Pro near our house because they do the pictures for free. The photographer (aka sixteen year old guy who probably works in the back and got stuck snapping pictures of screaming children) told me to just "throw" Mac in Santa's lap and run towards the camera. Well, by the time I tossed my child and got out of the way he was already screaming. I am going to have Eric take the picture to work and scan it because it is priceless...

The rest of our shopping trip was fun though. Bass Pro is a great place to take kids..there is so much to look at!
And here are some of my new favorite pictures of Mac. He looks like a little candy cane!