Thanksgiving in Tennessee

From Thanksgiving 2008

Since most of the family were going to be out of town we decided to go Gatlinburg for Thanksgiving. Mom and Dad thought it would be a great Christmas present for me and Clint. This type of Christmas present is our favorite. We had a special and fun time and Clint and I especially will never forget it.

I hated missing the Day after Thanksgiving Day sales, but I would rather be in Gatlinburg to see all the lights just in time to put me in the Christmas mood. So off we went. Dax did really well the whole time. He got fussy from just being tired of the car once or twice but other than that, he made it too easy.

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

Our first thing to do while we were their is stop at the Knife Works, the huge store that is sort of like Bass Pro Shop, but not quite. Fun none the less even though I could care less about knives. Later we drove into Downtown Gburg in which it was so crowded! that none of us really cared about venturing out at that time.

From Thanksgiving 2008

Clint, "It's what's for Dinner"

From Thanksgiving 2008

The next day we first ate Breakfast at one of my favorite places Apple Barn and then looked around bought things from the store. After that we headed to Cade's Cove where Clint and I got out and walked around to see all the cabins, Chimney Tops and Newfound Gap in which we got to see a good bit of snow and HUGE ice cycles. When we got to the top of Newfound Gap, it was so foggy that we didn't even bother going ever further to Clingman's Dome.

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

This was a ten point.  You can't see all the points - but trust me, they are there

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

We decided to skip lunch and go back through Downtown Gburg while Clint, Mom and I got out of the car while Dax stayed with Daddy driving around waiting for us to get through purchasing my must have fudge and mom's caramel popcorn. It was too misty and cold to get out and walk the store sidewalks, but to tell you the truth, I didn't care anything for it this time. They have so much crap and when I say crap I mean exactly that - crap that it was a bit overwhelming.

We stopped by the Tanger Outlet and after visiting the Sketcher, Timberland and pretty much every other shoe store, we finally found Clint a pair of shoes to replace his nice leather sketchers after looking for only say... 2-3 years. We got 60% off on a pair of $100 Bass. I think I heard the Hallelujah Choir as the cash register was ringing us up. I'm so glad to have the search for Clint's shoes finally come to an end.

Later that night we ate at Huck Finn's where they gave us "vittles" and guy with a guitar singing Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash songs. I have one video from the whole trip and it was while we were there. Listen closely in the background and you can hear Dad and Me arguing over our checks being separate. ha ha.

We went and visited The Christmas Place which again is huge and if I didn't have any restraint would end up spending way too much money, but this time I just enjoyed looking. I just loved seeing all the blue spruces covered in blue lights. Matter of fact, that's why I love going to Gatlinburg this time of year; Gatlinburg and all the surrounding cities are lit up with huge scenic light displays. We were trying to figure out the twelve days of Christmas by looking at the displays in the highway median. We never could get it straight.

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

From Thanksgiving 2008

I do have to say this. I could not believe the development that has grown up recently around the small -once- charming towns of Gburg. They have the Panama City stores up there now (with shark and all over the doorway) and questionable stores with big blinking signs... it broke my heart to see such a beautiful place get eaten up with trashy consumerism.

I Could Never Get Tired Of This

Since Dax has been sleeping all night (and I mean ALL NIGHT 8-9pm to 6-7am) I actually miss those middle of the night cuddles. So Monday night when Dax would cry every time I tried to put him down making it clear to me that he wanted to sleep either 1) draped over my shoulder or 2) all snuggled up in my arms with his head buried in my chest I absolutely ate it up.

I hated why I was having to comfort him - because he felt bad due to the "angrier" ear infection. I want him to get well and feel better but knowing that sometimes nothing else will do except mama's arms just pulls on my heart strings.

I was so tired but didn't even care, I sat up with him for hours and loved every minute of it. If I could just stop time...

See I could never get tired of this: Baby Jelly Beans

Big Shoes To Fill - Literally

From Big Shoes

From Big Shoes

Home Sweet Home - Again

A week ago I took Dax to the pediatrician's office to see Dr. Simpson because the doctor had told me that if Dax's congestion didn't get better to bring him in and let him take a look.

So since Dax couldn't seem to shake it (or myself as well) I took him in and low and behold poor little man had an ear infection. He didn't have ANY of the symptoms whatsoever, he'd had a healthy appetite, been super cheerful and talkative - no pulling of the ears. So it was such a blessing that I went ahead and took him in. Dr. put him on Amoxil for 10 days.

Round about Thursday, Dax wasn't finishing all his bottles like he normally does but other than that seemed fine. Saturday I noticed he was fussy and his head felt hot so I took his temperature and he had a low grade fever. So, called Dr. and he said to bring him in. Dr. Simpson checked his ears and said that infection in his left ear was getting "angrier."

Well, he's been steadily getting over it but the signs he didn't exhibit at first, are a little apparent now. He has been unusually fussy (however still in a playful mood).

Dax's baby conversations are still evolving as he experiments with different tones and facial expressions. He's gotten to where he appears to be on the verge of crying when he's talking or playing. And though sometimes he might actually be fussing due to not feeling well from his ear, I'm pretty sure when he flashes that gummy grin he's just playing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL7701URkzU

Since Dax was sick, and I was still very sick myself we stayed in doors again. But it really was nice - I actually enjoyed it. The 5 of us all together taking it easy. Here's a video of Dax and I trying to amuse ourselves. It doesn't take much.

From Home Sweet Home

From Home Sweet Home

Pictures of sleeping babies never get old with me

From Home Sweet Home

Very Expressive!

Dax's jibber jabber is evolving everyday and it just keeps getting funnier/bizarre.

Little man even out talks me and I'm not exaggerating! We wake up somewhere between 5-6am to Dax's conversations that he carries on with the ceiling, the crib, the mobile, who knows? But it puts a smile on our face that's for sure. It's too funny. He is going to be quite the talker! - Yes I know what you are all thinking... "he gets it honest" ha ha.

He is now rolling from his back to his stomach - yikes. I've only seen him do this in the crib when he's asleep but restless. That's were the Yikes comes in. All the stuff you read and hear about SIDS and that being a possible cause.

Mom and I are convinced that Dax is starting to teeth. He's gumming anything an everything but only at certain times. So I think he may have a tooth about this time next month.

Clint measured him and said "wow" 2 feet and 2 1/2 inches. When mom and I were at the Pediatrician's office recently Dr. Simpson confirmed. I can't believe he's already 26".

Here's some videos of his constant jibber jabber and singing. I know they're are more than 1 video, but amuse me. Hey at least I don't keep rolling for minutes...

Fun, Fun, Fun!

Dax has been making a lot of new noises here lately; they are more controlled and high pitched for that matter. He has finally inherited the Swann and Roper talent of talking so loud that it demands a whole new decibel scale to measure it. ; ) He doesn't do that when he cries, and that's IF he cries; it's when he gets excited that he's so loud. It's so much fun to watch (or hear…). He still makes the same peculiar noise when he laughs. I cannot mimic it most of the time due to always having a sore throat. But, if I ever do manage to make that noise just like he does, he goes crazy with excitement!

Mother and Daddy [Maw Maw and Paw Paw] discovered him making a new sound as well. What it were to sound like if you puckered your lips, then blew out while putting sound behind it. I'm sure most of you know which sound I'm referring to. It didn't tickle them so much that he made that sound, it was that later when Maw Maw made that noise back to him, he mimicked her. That tickled them to death!! When I got him home later that night and I was in another room, he made that same noise. Too cute. I've got a feeling Dax is going to be SO rotten. He finds new and EASY ways to make us fall totally in love with him!

Chocolate Cafe

Dax...what Mama gets up to when you're not around... I couldn't get back to you soon enough! j/k.

Jennifer was responsible for decorating a table (which she did an awesome job as you see in the pictures) at The Chocolate Cafe get together at Gardendale First Baptist so there was good food, lots of fun and good speakers that I didn't get to hear all of due to 8 o'clock rolling around and needing to pick Dax up from Moms and Tuck him in to keep on that good ole schedule.

[Okay, that's not me doing the mash potato - just so we are clear] :) But that is Jennifer doing the Hand Jive! ahahaha!
[We just couldn't get enough of that lady!]

[Actually, maybe it's in the above video that people were mashing those potatos or churning butter one.. I'm not sure....]
Jennifer did a good job on her table

From Chocolate Cafe

Me and JB

From Chocolate Cafe

JB and her mama, Sherry

From Chocolate Cafe

Miranda

From Chocolate Cafe

JB and some kid, she probably snatched him from someone

From Chocolate Cafe

On Top Of Spaghetti

When I was little I'm sure mother sung many a song to me.

The one I remember the most is "On Top of Spaghetti" and since it's really the only song of that nature I can actually remember the words to, I sing it to Dax

It's too funny because I remember being so sad and feeling so sorry for the meatball that I wanted to cry.

Dax really likes the mocking bird song, but I always have to make up words to that because I can't remember those lyrics at all.

You know, the

"Hush little baby don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a mocking bird.

If that mocking bird don't sing, mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring [yeah, I know... a bit fruity to sing that to a boy].

If that diamond ring don't shine .... (and here is where I forget the lyrics and end up making ones that rhyme off the top of my head. I'm horrible at rhyming!!)

If that diamond ring don't shine, mama's gonna buy you some turpentine (sp).

If that turpentine really stinks, mama's gonna buy you a piece of meat.

If that piece of meat has maggots, mama's gonna buy you a Harley jacket...

Just horrible..

but he really loves that tune. So I'm going to have to figure out a way to sing "Jesus Loves Me" lyrics with the "Mockingbird" tune.

And thank goodness babies don't care if you can't carry a tune [or so says the experts]. It must be true because if it weren't I'm sure Dax would be crying instead of smiling.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIQaRx8DjTo

On Top of Spaghetti

On top of spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
I lost my poor meatball,
When somebody sneezed.

It rolled off the table,
And on to the floor,
And then my poor meatball,
Rolled out of the door.

It rolled in the garden,
And under a bush,
And then my poor meatball,
Was nothing but mush.

The mush was as tasty
As tasty could be,
And then the next summer,
It grew into a tree.

The tree was all covered,
All covered with moss,
And on it grew meatballs,
And tomato sauce.

So if you eat spaghetti,
All covered with cheese,
Hold on to your meatball,
Whenever you sneeze

Anyways, Dax Looks Better in Blue!

Auburn may be having a bad year, but we're still wearing Orange and Blue. Red isn't our color anyways... :)

WAR EAGLE!

From Orage and Blue

From Orage and Blue

From Orage and Blue

Cheerful In All Weather

Dax has been staying congested so I took him to the peditrician and found out little man had an ear infection. We had no idea because other than being congested he's been perfectly normal. No pulling of his ears, still finishing all his milk.

It breaks my heart to see him congested but at least he's still such a happy guy!

"That's the Swann in Him"

Last week Dax was congested and we needed to run the humidifier - since Clint cannot tolerate humidifiers (they give him bad headaches) we had to let Dax sleep in his room for the first time other than short naps during the day. He took to his room famously and slept ALL NIGHT. So... we've decided it's time to make the move which has worked perfect, until this weekend when Dax starting to roll around in his crib (not from stomach to back) but from back to side along with rotating at least a 90 degree angle which prompted me to take out the the lovely thick navy monogrammed "little tiger" bumper until a little older (they say the thick bumpers are dangerous between 2-4 mos.) but then this morning as I sat up in bed and looked in his room his little toes were hanging out of the side rails from where he'd rolled over. Oh dear!! Guess it's to Babies R Us to buy a mesh bumper to use in the meantime.

Since Dax has supported his weight with steadying from us and the fact he's had a very stable head even in the first week of life, Ms. Sandy or Ms. Owanna at Daycare decided it was time for Dax to try out the walker. Clint said that when he came in and saw Dax that he was having so much fun and looked so funny he hated to have to pick him up out of it. Jennifer said that he was laughing at her and sliding around all over the room in that walker. Jennifer said that Ms. Sandy had told her that he'd been laughing all day!

Ms. Trammell still works at the Daycare from time to time and when she got a chance to run into Mom, she told Mother that Dax's talkative side is the "Swann" in him. ha ha. How true it is. He gets so excited that he tries to out talk [jibber jabber] you. He's also been playing with toys and batting at his mobile.

Where Did Maw Maw Go?!?

Nov. 8th Mom [Maw Maw], Dax and I got to take off to Christmas Village with Aunt Sheila and Leah. We tried to get Misty (my other 1st cousin from Dad's side) to come with us but in her words "why would I pay money to get in the door just so I'd be able to buy more things."

[This is usually the part where if I were saying this in person I'd be doing my best Misty impression while quoting her and those that knew her would be laughing]. Misty, lucky for you in the world of blogosphere it would take too much time and effort to video tape that and add it in – and by that time is wouldn't be funny anyways. Big Hug Misty! ; )

As always, the place was crowded and Mom and I got split up from Aunt Sheila and Leah almost immediately. Which was probably better, because Mother and I pretty much had the same thing in mind, which was to round the dip and soup tables as many times as we could without getting in trouble by the dip people giving out the free samples.

Dax was pretty happy, although I kept both the carrier and stroller umbrella closed a lot so he wouldn't get too overwhelmed. Or, to make sure while I was focusing in on some free dip someone didn't just walk up and stick their finger in his face. I even kept him buckled in his carrier (in the stroller) the whole time we were there unless I was holding him. I may have been too paranoid, but I felt as crowded as it was it would only take a split second for me to turn my head and someone snatch him up had he not been buckled in. It didn't seem to bother him so it all went well.

We finally made it upstairs and by that time we called Aunt Sheila and Leah to meet up with us. Mom told me to "go look at whatever else you want to see now because when they find us we'll be leaving."

Assuming Mom would be in the same spot when got back, I took off to take a quick look around upstairs and left Dax with her so I could do it even quicker. After less than a minute of looking I realized I was too tired and I'd be better off waiting with Mom. When I got to where I had left her – guess what… that's right!! Mom and Dax in the big stroller/carrier were no where to be seen. If anybody has ever been to Christmas Village at the BJCC they will understand why I bout had an FREAK OUT MOMENT!

Before I got carried away (as hard as it was!!) I told myself, stay right here! When they can't find you it'd be the most logical place for them to look.

The one minute that past seemed like an eternity until I saw Aunt Sheila and Leah. When they walked up I'm sure I scared them to death with my flabbergasted look and letting them know I had no idea where Mom and Dax was. As soon as I got it out of my mouth I looked over Aunt Sheila's shoulder and saw Mom very casually strolling Dax looking around coming from the direction of the peanut brittle booth (the FREE sample Peanut Brittle Booth) which Mom had to stop by as soon as we got upstairs and no doubt where she had just disappeared to when I couldn't find her.

Okay, so now we were all accounted for, I didn't see any reason in dwelling on my mini panic attack moment and get after mom for walking off. (Or wait… maybe I did dwell on it for a good justified minute or so… ; ) So, it's time to go home which first we had to go back down stairs to get out. When we were about to get on the escalator I turned around to see if Mom was going to go down with the stroller while I held Dax and

Doh!! She's missing again. Where to? Where do you think? Getting another free sample from the Peanut Brittle Booth. I kid you not!

I tell ya Dax, what are we going to do with Maw Maw??!!

From Christmas Village

The crazy woman herself

From Christmas Village

Leah, messing up a perfectly good picture

From Christmas Village

From Christmas Village

Lidia

Jonathan and Jessica came over Friday night and brought 6 week old Lidia (Lidi for short). We could not get over her hair! She was so stinkin precious and that hair was so rare. Clint made the comment to Jonathan "you daughter's hair kicks butt" ha ha.

Dax was all smiles.

Here's a funny video of the two of them. Notice my reaction at the end. He gets me everytime.

From Dax and Lidia

From Dax and Lidia

From Dax and Lidia

3 Months!!! & Staying Indoors Fun

No pictures from this weekend as Dax was congested so we didn't make it out of the house - AGAIN! Boy do I long for this cold season to be over with already... and it just begun. But we always have fun and still feel blessed nonetheless. Matter of fact - I know that I'll soon look back on these days of house quarantine with fond memories and just so I don't forget this one I'm going to put it down on his page:

Clint is such a helper and a life saver when it comes to my sanity as far as housework goes (now he's always offering but doesn't always execute). I do appreciate the thought though. ha ha. One thing Clint does is often ask me if he can help with the housework. Some things he does great hands down. Other requests I think we both know as soon as it's out of my mouth we realize that there is no way he's ever going to tackle that one - but of course that doesn't stop me from trying. :)

One in particular is the bathroom. Man, who doesn't hate cleaning the bathroom!!! It's my biggest headache as far as house cleaning goes.

After a while of asking Clint to help me with this (which let's face it... women deep down clean and men surface clean... ha ha).

Over time I noticed that Clint's "surface cleaning" just won't cut it in the bathroom with all those germs...so... I cut the request down to asking him if he'd just windex the bathroom mirror.

Well, I got my answer... and it was: along with the toothpaste and water splatters that always somehow manage to make it past the sink to the mirror, now I have to go with it a set of Dax's footprints. That's right - the men have spoken. On both sides of the cabinet mirrors are Dax's footprints like he decided to take a walk up the side of the wall. Even though I'm already certain Dax holds superhero like qualities he couldn't have made those footprints w/o Daddy's help. Yep, Daddy's such a sweet turd isn't he! ; )

Thank goodness Clint can't manage to throw his foot up that high, or otherwise we might have his footprint on the mirror as well. I'm afraid if I ask him again he might put Dax's butt cheeks' print on the mirror.

It's so funny that I think I'm just going to have to live with a dirty mirror for a while. Those footprints make me laugh every time I see them. ; )

Happy 3 months little man! A quarter of a year has passed already! These have been the best 3 mos of Mama and Daddy's life!!