Mommy's Little Helper

Last weekend was another beautiful one in FL (now all you non-Floridians, try to remain calm while you're scraping ice off windshields, shoveling snow from sidewalks, and generally wishing the days until spring - don't hate! :) ). Anyway, as much as we like to have fun all the time, we have to designate one of our weekend days to chores. And Merrick is such a little helper!

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A day-in-the-life of helping Mommy, by Merrick D. R. Radley:

First thing in the morning, I like to spend a bit of lazy time with Daddy and Dexter before we gear up for the big day of chores!

Then it's time for our first thing on the "to do" list - see what kind of crazy, death-defying stunt I can perform to scare Mommy. As you can see, I was quickly able to check this off the list:

Now it's on to helping Mommy with laundry...I don't know how she was able to get this stuff done without my help!!

Next, it was time to head outdoors to do some weeding and give Dex a much-needed bath. Here I am, giving Mommy lots of supervision:

Finally, after all that hard work, Mommy let me take a minute to relax....phewwww!!

Best Buddies

Merrick loves, and I mean LOVES Dexter. As soon as Merrick sees Dexter after getting up in the morning or coming home for the day, he gets this huge grin and laughs and crawls toward him. Dexter on the other hand? Well, he tolerates Merrick. Dexter is still pretty jealous that he has to share the love, and doesn't really have any to share for Merrick quite yet.

I know that will change soon - just as soon as Dexter realizes who in the family is sneaking people food to him, never tiring of throwing the ball, allowing unlimited passes to sleep in the bed, etc. Then we can truly call it 'baby's best friend'!

What we're so thankful for, and not surprised about, is that even though Dexter is not a huge fan of Merrick yet, it is not and never has been an issue of trusting him with Merrick. Dex wouldn't harm a hair on Merrick's little cannonball head, even when subjected to a baby's surprisingly strong grasps, pinches, etc. Trust me, I know his little fingers are strong, as I am the recipient of this all the time and have the marks on my face to prove it!

We continue to tell Merrick "gentle, gentle" as he's attempting to rip off our noses, gauge out our eyes, grab hair, or yank on Dexter's ear. One day he'll know what that means, but clearly he doesn't get it yet!

Below is a video of Merrick "playing" with Dex...

Happy Birthday Wrennie!!

This post should really be dated February 17....that is Wren's 1st birthday!! Merrick loved going to his very first birthday party to celebrate his cousin's big day. Here he is - ready to party!

Well, Merrick is more of a morning person (trust me - at 6:00 in the morning every day, on the dot, he is awake, happy and ready to start his day). So by 7:00PM he was zonked and missed all the birthday singing, cake eating and other festivities. Now I am more of a night owl, so I REALLY wish I could talk him into not cracking those eyes open until at least 7AM, but he's not having it. It does not matter what time he goes to bed at night - 6PM, 7PM, 8PM - he's up at 6AM. Woe is me!!!! Anyway, I digress....

Wren had a fabulous 1st birthday! His first taste of chocolate, the Happy Birthday song, not to mention all the presents!! Of course, at first he wasn't convinced this birthday thing was for him:

Ahh, but nothing a little chocolate won't cure....hmm....this chocolate thing - a kid could get used to this!

Oh, and I get to share with Daddy?! Well then bring it on!

I think Wren was convinced that birthday parties are a GOOD thing! Happy Birthday Wren! Hopefully next year Merrick will stay up late enough to join in on the fun!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Although Mommy and Daddy are Valentine's Day bah-humbugs, Merrick has not yet been jaded by the over-commercialized holiday, and would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! :)

Monday was my first night away from Merrick EVER. I had a business trip to Atlanta - just an overnight trip, and a quick 45 minute flight. It was the ideal business trip introduction since having him. But it was hard!!!! Of course Craig flawlessly performed double duty and I'm sure all the bachelors in the house (that includes Dex!) had fun without me. I have been very fortunate with my job and they have held to their commitment of very minimal travel - a sticking point before I would return. So far this was my first trip since I went back to work in October, and there are no additional travel plans on the horizon at this point. For those that weren't aware, pre-Merrick I was on the road about 50%, most of that in California - which makes for a LONG week when going coast to coast all the time.

I was thinking, as I arrived at my hotel on Monday, that if I had to look on the bright side, it would be the first full, uninterrupted night's sleep I've had since I was in my second trimester of pregnancy. But I found myself waking up anyway...briefly forgetting where I was, in that haze where you're not sure where you are or what's going on - 'where's the monitor?!', 'where's Merrick?!', 'is he breathing??!!!!', 'oh no I've lost Merrick in the sheets', etc. Oh well, guess I'm meant to sleep when he's 18.

This morning while feeding Merrick breakfast, he showed me his brand new skill - clapping!! Enjoy below:

Happy 9 Month Birthday!!

Yesterday was Merrick's 9 month birthday. WOW - this time is flying by so fast. I'm always telling everyone that on the one hand, I get so excited every day to watch him learn, grow and explore this world. On the other hand, I want to keep savoring this time in his life as I know we'll NEVER get it back!

He had a 9 month check up yesterday. All is well, did well with his vision test, and lucky him - no shots!! Stats: Length=29 1/2 " (75 percentile), Weight=18lbs, 12oz (25-50 percentile), head=47.5cm (95 - YES, 95 percentile)....our little cannonball head. :)

In honor of his 9 month birthday, Merrick has put together a little ditty:

Cousins and Crocodiles (well, actually alligators)

It was such a beautiful weekend here in St. Augustine. Not too hot, not too cold. You don't get too many of those here! We spent Saturday with Aunt Teri, Uncle David, Grammy, and cousins Willow & Wren. What fun! Merrick loves going on the swing, and he actually puts on a nice temper tantrum if his time is not up yet for the swing. Where on earth does he get that temper?? We got a pic of Aunt Teri with cousin Wren, but Willow is quick as lightening and does not like photo ops. NO PAPARAZZI!

On Sunday we went to the Alligator Farm. Merrick loved checking out all the birds, monkeys, and the alligators.

No Mom.....

This is not the Geneva Gnews!!!!

Food Fight

Merrick has been eating solids for about 4 months now, and up until recently he's done great! The last couple weeks, however, he has become very particular...he's become aware of color, texture and flavor and he has begun to flat out deny certain foods.

Being the overly cautious, overly conservative mother that I am, I became quite stressed that he wasn't getting enough to eat. I would get ready to feed him, he'd purse his lips tight, and I would persist. Eventually he'll open his mouth! He has to open his mouth or he'll starve! Next bite, I am dodging flailing, chubby little hands trying to keep me away from his mouth as I aim for the target. Food goes everywhere, mommy's frustrated because he won't eat, Merrick's frustrated because I'm trying to make him eat. I didn't know what I was going to do!

Well, I dusted off a book recommended to me that discusses children's eating habits, behaviors, etc. In the book, the author stresses the importance that you let the child lead in terms of how much they want to eat, and to never force or coerce feeding, as it will only backfire in the end and could cause eating issues later in life. It had the AUDACITY to suggest that I sit back in my chair, bring the spoon halfway between us and let HIM come to the spoon. When he refused, it meant he was no longer hungry. Hmppphh...I don't think I'm buying into this. But I had nothing to lose for trying.

Wouldn't you know....it worked like a CHARM!! Our little guy is stubborn - he wants to eat on his terms and, imagine this, he does not appreciate someone looming over him trying to shove a spoonful of food down his throat! Things have been going MUCH better...there are certain foods he doesn't seem to care for, like green vegetables (he LOVES carrots, squash, etc). But we'll keep trying on the green veggies, being not too pushy, and encouraging him to continue to try new things.

It's not just Merrick that's learning his way in the world...we are learning how to be his parents. I'm sure it's a lifelong lesson - the most challenging thing we've done, but by far the most worthwhile!