Happy 4th of July

: : a post by McCord : :

A year ago today was my due date, but I surprised everyone and was delivered 3 days earlier.  Look how much I've grown since my first July 4th!

This year, I've done all sorts of fun things to celebrate the holiday. 

I've played with my favorite toy of all time - the Dyson.

I also had my one year photo shoot with Nicole Rogers (more on that later!).  Mama says that I flirted with her the whole time!

I mowed the lawn and never took my eyes off of Daddy the whole time - you can see him just outside of the fence doing something very-manly-and-cool-with-a-really-big-tool-that-makes-a-lot-of-noise.  Isn't he impressive?!

 And here I am helping Daddy fix the weed eater.  Just in case you ever have to fix a weed eater, it really helps if you get your booty in it like I'm demonstrating here.

 ...and this morning I got my first taste of orange cinnamon rolls.  I almost ate everything off of Daddy's plate!

And speaking of food, our neighbors knocked on our door this morning to tell us that they are leaving town and would like for us to pick their garden while they are gone.  Here's our first bag of fresh veggies. 

Hope you have a happy 4th of July!

Love, McCord

1 year old

McCord is One Year Old!

...and he's absolutely stolen our hearts. 

1-year-old McCord standing next to the maple we planted in his honor when he was just 2 weeks old

A few things your Daddy and I love that you are doing at 1 year old:

• the way you play with my hair when you're tired
• the way you look at your daddy with such admiration
• you've recently discovered that you can walk on your own if you use your walker (on wheels).  I love how your tiny body waddles through the kitchen without hardly bending your knees.  Sometimes, your Daddy and I think you look like a little old man hobbling to the cafeteria as you'll see from the sideways video below. 
• You love being outside and especially enjoy watching birds and playing with sticks.
• Your favorite toy right now may very well be the Dyson vacuum.  Since we moved recently, it hasn't found a good home yet - and it's hanging out in the playroom.  You couldn't be happier. 

McCord, you have made life so grand!  Whatever did we do without you?!!  We love you so much and are so thankful for the past 12 months.  We consider every day with you a true blessing.

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McCord is 11 months old!

Dear McCord,

Today you are 11 months old, and your Daddy and I are madly in love with you. 

We are so amazed at how much you've learned this month.  You've amended your crawling style using your left knee to support your weight and you kick the other leg out to the side to push and guide - it's sort of like your rudder.  We think you made this adjustment to protect one of your knees from the hardwood floor.  It's a little awkward, but it works for you and I adore your ingenuity! 

You're pretty good at pulling up now, and you practice this new skill when I'm unloading the dishwasher and folding clothes from the dryer.  When you hear me open up the dishwasher or dryer, you come scooting my way (quickly with that rudder of yours!) to practice your new trick. 

Here are some things you've done recently that we don't want to forget:

• You reach out from the stroller to hold your Daddy's hand when we walk around the block
• I'll never forget one time when you were nursing, you stopped, looked up at me, and leaned in to kiss me on the lips, then went back to eating.  Melt my heart!
• When I brush your hair at night, you like to take the brush from me and brush my hair.
• You've also learned how to pick up two things with one hand!  It was quite a revelation for you when you discovered this and Aiya and I enjoyed watching that light go off in your head.  Now you do it all the time. 

This month we went to feed the ducks...



...and learned that those geese are quite bossy!  We were completely outnumbered - I had to hold you the whole time because I was afraid they were going to run away with you!

• You are on the go!  Your favorite thing right now is to explore all the corners of our house.  You know how to open a cracked door, and it's not unusual to find you contentedly sitting on the floor of the pantry playing with all kinds of items Daddy and I didn't even know we had.  Same goes for my closet!
• You've also discovered all of the door stops in the house and you love to pull the white cap off of each one!
• Most recently, you and Daddy devised a little game with your paci.  He pretends like he's going to put it in his mouth and you take it out of yours and try to fit it in his mouth.  This makes Daddy roar with laughter!  You are quite a funny little fellow.

This is an especially sentimental month for us - this 11th month of your life - because it's the last month we'll be living on Surrey Lane.  The day we brought you home from the hospital, I cried when we turned onto Surrey Lane, because I just knew that we would have so many wonderful memories in this place.  We couldn't wait to get you home.  I still remember walking you through each room and telling you all about the house and how we used each room.  I was so proud to show you your nursery - by far my favorite room in the house - because we assembled it especially for you.  We are so thankful for you and for the ways that you've enriched our life here and forever. 

Here you are standing next to your maple on your 11 month birthday.  My how you and the maple have grown!

McCord, Monkey, Baby, we love you like crazy.

McCord is 10 Months Old

First family vacation with Daddy and Mama to Mansfield Plantation in Georgetown, SC

Dear McCord,

You are 10 months old.  With every day that passes, I am in awe of the little boy God has created.  You are tender and sweet.  Your usual silly and playful side is tempered with shy and serious times.  You are easily comforted and entertained.  I am so impressed by how adaptable you are to whatever situation we're in.  You love smiling at strangers in the check-out line at the grocery store, and you are content to travel several hours in the car. 

As an infant you slept through the night at only 8 weeks old, and you have continued to do that regardless of whether you're in a new environment and sleeping in a pack n' play.  Tonight however, you're cutting your two front teeth and every couple of hours you cry out in the darkness.  Oh!  How I've relished scooping you up and holding you in my arms until you fall asleep.  It's been so long since you've needed me in that way, and I'm treasuring these middle-of-the-night moments.  Lately, you've found comfort in reaching for my hair and rubbing it between your fingers.  And I am comforted in knowing that brings you peace. 

One of your signature smiles

Your daddy and I have so enjoyed watching your personality unfold.  Already, there are things you do that are "so McCord" - like giving us one of your signature looks - a smile so subtle with eyes so full of meaning - you can have us laughing hystarically in seconds flat.  The expressions you've mastered are so grown-up and intentional that sometimes I have to remind myself that you're only 10 months old.  Amazing how your eyes say so much and you can't even talk yet!

You, my son, are a gift and a true blessing from God.  How proud I am to be called your Mama.  Not a day passes that I don't thank God for you.  Remember this one thing: You are loved beyond measure. 

Standing next to your maple with Daddy on Easter Sunday, just a week prior to your 10 month birthday

Look at how much you've grown!

Happy 10 month birthday, McCord!

Love, Mama


10 months:

• your smile: 2 bottom teeth and cutting 2 top teeth
• favorite food: strawberries
• favorite pastimes: getting into the dog bowl and rearranging the records

Expanding your taste in music

• loves: kindermusic, Rocky, Hank, Jackson, and the vaccume cleaner
• signature gesture: throwing your head in your hands when you're tired
• lately: you've been kissing us, Rocky, your grandparents, toys and also sticking out your tongue - but not at the same time
• this month you: experienced your first Come-See-Me, first Easter, and first Redmond Family Vacation to Mansfield Plantation
• I'm surprised you enjoy: going to the assisted living facility and visiting elderly folks
• you've gotten pretty good at: crawling/sliding around on your belly to get places

Watch out world!

• you're still trying to: pull up to a standing position
• we've been trying to teach you: sign language and how to wave

What a joy it has been!

Happy Easter

This was Bo's Easter basket when he was a little boy, and thankfully his mom saved it for him to share with his son.  Bo says he can still remember going to Easter egg hunts with this basket.  I can't wait for McCord to do the same!

On the grounds of our church right after the butterfly release prior to the service.





McCord is 9 Months Old!

...and we have a crawler! 

Or, perhaps we should call McCord a "slider" since he's been sliding around the house on his belly.  It's been so much fun watching him try different crawling techniques: so far, he's perfected Military Style where he uses his forearms as supports, Salamander Style where he slides around the floor on his belly; and my all time favorite is Tree Frog Style, where he uses his toes for traction to push him forward.  He hasn't quite figured out how to use his knees yet, but we know it's just a matter of time. 

Here are a few pictures of McCord by his maple that I took last week on his official "9 month birthday." His maple has just started to get some leaves and McCord and I check it out every day to monitor it's growth. 

We just had our 9 month appointment and learned that this little guy hasn't grown too much since his last checkup, so we are focused on getting more calories in McCord.  After lots and lots of attempts, we've figured out that he has a texture issue with food - no purees for this little guy!  Instead he'd prefer to experiment with foods that he can pick up and put in his mouth on his own.  He's still loving dried apricots and new favorites include graham crackers and ritz crackers. 

Here are a few fun 9 month old memories about McCord:

• I think his favorite color right now is yellow, because I see him consistently reach for his yellow toys first - we also have a yellow dyson vacuum cleaner, and he squeels with delight when I pull it out to vacuum, calling for it the same way he does for our pets Rocky, Hank and Jackson - maybe he thinks the dyson is one of our pets!
• I just recently observed that he knows what "no no" and "paci" mean.  It is absolutely AMAZING to watch his language develop right before our eyes. 
• McCord is starting to smell more like a little boy and less like a baby - just a reminder to Bo and me that this baby stage goes by so quickly!
• Mc is pulling up and is so proud of himself when he pulls himself into your lap. 
• He's also hugging, nuzzling, and kissing.  So sweet!
• We also had to lower the crib about 2 weeks ago, because this guy has started to put himself into the sitting position all on his own.

Here's Mc enjoying the swing that his daddy and Doe Doe hung for him this weekend.  He loves it!

...and here's McCord visiting Daddy at work.  Don't let his scholastic attire fool you - the first thing he did when he sat at Daddy's desk was knock over a file of very important papers!  Oh what fun it is at the bank!

McCord is 8 Months Old...

...and life has never been so amazing!

Here are a few photos I took last week as McCord and I cut some forsythia to bring inside.  If I had to sum up this past month in one word it would be "awe," for McCord has been in awe of every single detail - surrounding him.  And Bo and I've been in awe of him! 

How wonderful it is to be 8 months old!  McCord has discovered that he can move his jaw up and down like he's talking without making any noise.  Sometimes we'll catch him silently "jabbing" and then he looks at us as if to say, "Did you see that?!!!!  I can move my mouth!" His favorite sound, however, is still the pterodactyl squeal (although he has started babbling mama mama mama, lately... all a coinsidence, of course, but saying Mama, none-the-less).

Here are some of Mc's favorite things right now...

• Favorite pastime: sitting on a quilt and playing with his toys (and/or chewing on his books - not looking at pictures or turning pages, mind you, but this grandson of a children's librarian enjoys chewing on his books!).  Right now, he loves to pull toys out of containers like bags, his toy box - he even likes to pull his Butt Paste out of the diaper changing caddy.  Ah, what a thrill!
• Food: Dried apricots have been a hit lately for this teething little guy.  He's not too interested in food in general yet, so we are working on making food a positive experience with lots of cheering and praise for eating oatmeal.  Life is really fun in the Redmond household right now.  

• Music: This little fellow loves to listen to music. And he especially loves to watch you enjoy music. If a good Motown song comes on the Pandora station, and Bo or I start dancing, he starts rocking back and forth and nodding his head too. And if you start dancing toward him, singing lyrics and incorporating him into your dance routine - watch out! - a huge smile abounds usually followed by more head nodding. He's been known to do the same enthusiastic upper-body rock/head nod at Kindermusik.

 
 

• Pets: Rocky, Hank, and Jackson are Mc's buddies! Every time he sees one of them, he lets out a little excited squeal as if he's thinking, "Oh, it's you again! Thank goodness you're here! I've been thinking about running my hands through your fur all day long!"

...and finally, here are my two favorite boys next to McCord's Maple.  You can't tell it from this photo, but McCord's Maple has grown about a foot and a half since we planted it last July.  What a joy it is to see it thriving and growing just like our little boy!

We look forward to seeing what the next month brings.  I think some crawling is in our future!