Our Little Traveler

I took some pictures this morning of Hayden's travels across the floor. You'll be able to see his progression throughout the house. I stopped him once he got into the kitchen and brought him back in the living room, but he probably would have gone much further if I had let him. One of his favorite things to do (as you will see) is go to the back door and look out to see if Gus is at the back door. Hayden loves his brother, and Gus loves his brother, too. :o)

And, here he is....hitting the motherload! Turn the music off (or pause it) at the bottom before you play the video so you can listen.


I made two other posts today, so keep reading!

Attack of Roomba

Both Chris and I don't like vacuuming....are there really many people out there who enjoy that job anyway? When we moved into our new house, some friends of mine came over to visit and both were talking about their Roomba robotic vacuum cleaners. I had heard of the Roomba, but I seriously doubted that they really worked all that well. After we heard both of them rave about their Roombas and after we read reviews online, we decided to use some of our economic stimulus money to stimulate the economy by buying a Roomba.

Well, I'm not sure we really stimulated the economy all that much, but we found a wonderful household addition when we bought Roomba. With a push of a button, Roomba zooms around the house vacuuming up all kinds of stuff. Yes, that's right....Roomba really works....and it works really well....trust me, I have serious allergies, and Roomba really gets so many more dust bunnies than our previous vacuum cleaner did. Roomba actually even helped with bug collection when we had our bug infestation after we moved in....long story by the way. Anyway, that's my plug for Roomba...go buy one!

Seemingly switching topics but not really, Hayden is always on the move. He absolutely loves rolling around everywhere. Roomba is currently plugged in and charging in our living room, and this weekend, Hayden visited Roomba. He has always liked watching Roomba do its thing, and I guess he thought he might roll over and give Roomba a visit. Chris and I were both busy working on our laptops and were halfway paying attention to Hayden when we hear the famous sound of Roomba....you can all hear the sound in your head if you have one and are reading right now. We look around the couch to see Hayden laying on the floor and Roomba attacking Hayden. Hayden apparently figured out how to turn Roomba on, and Roomba went straight for him. Hayden got upset, and Roomba kept trying to suck him up. Roomba actually took Hayden for a ride for a second, because it managed to get up underneath him. All Chris and I could do is sit there a laugh for a while. Needless to say, Hayden was somewhat traumatized and wouldn't even get down on the floor for a while until I got down with him.

It obviously didn't traumatize Hayden too bad, because he went and visited Roomba yesterday. He stayed far enough away to make sure Roomba didn't attack him, though. Hehehe... He has such a personality!

RIVERDANCE

This past weekend, several girls (and several of our moms) from our church headed off to Memphis to see Riverdance. Yes, that's right...I went to see those Irish dancers who have amazing fast, fancy footwork do their "thang." :o) We made it a day trip and all rode together, and after lots of laughs along the way, we made it to the rainy city of Memphis. We met my friend Leslie there, and it was so good to see her. I've mentioned Leslie before...she is the amazing person who managed to put up with and live with me and all my randomness for four years in college.

We enjoyed some fantastic ribs at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous, which is one of my all-time favorite places to eat ribs (Dreamland BBQ is right there with them). After stuffing ourselves full of ribs, we headed off to Riverdance at the Orpheum Theatre. What a combination by the way - ribs and Riverdance!

The show was great! My favorite part was an act that included some hilarious tap dancers and some Riverdancers. You can see something like it (not quite like we saw it but pretty close) here. I would definitely recommend seeing this amazing show if it ever comes close to where you live!

The Riverdance Group

Leslie and I

An Update on the Davidsons

Hi everyone! I know, I know....It's been way too long since I've blogged. Anyway, I'll try to give y'all an update on the last several weeks. This post will kind of be a smorgasbord of information, but here you go. Hayden is, of course, growing, growing, growing. He had to go to the pediatrician's office yesterday (just to get two shots...his second dose of the flu vaccine), and they weighed him while he was there. 23 pounds, 2 ounces! He is one big boy!

A couple of weekends ago, it was really pretty and warm outside, so we took Hayden outside for a while. Gus (our friendly bassett hound) was ecstatic to be around his brother. Because it has been so cold, the two haven't really been around each other very much other than to look at each other through the back door. Gus did meet him the day he came home and gave him a lick or two to welcome him into the family, and when he saw him this time, he practically bathed the child with slobber. Hayden loved it, Gus loved it, and Chris and I were both laughing. We put Hayden in his Bumbo, and Gus decided he needed to tell Hayden all about his problems. Gus was super protective of Hayden...it was really cute. When he (Gus) would hear a frog croaking or a dog barking, he would rush over to Hayden and sit beside him. Oh, the love of a dog.

During Valentine's weekend, Chris and I enjoyed a little bit of a child break. Chris' mom and sister took Hayden off our hands Friday evening, and we had a little time to ourselves Friday and Saturday night. It was really nice to have this, and I think every married couple needs a little time away from the kids every once in a while. On Valentine's Day, we made a trip to Gulfport and ate at Emeril's Gulf Coast Fish House....yum, yum! It was super good. If you ever have a chance to go to Emeril's, take the chance. We've been twice to the one that was in Atlanta and twice to one in New Orleans, and all three restaurants have been super good. We headed back towards Clinton on Sunday and met my mom, who had gotten Hayden. I love my two Valentine men so much! I am so blessed to have both...Chris, Hayden....oh, and don't forget about Gus!

Today, I went swimming at the Y in Flowood and then needed to go shopping for a swim suit and for a shower gift for my cousin. My mom helped me out by going with me and doing a little baby-sitting while I was doing my shopping. We put Hayden in one of the buggies at Belk, and boy, did he love it! He flashed that grin all along the way. You'll see in my pictures below the result of the trip....needless to say, shopping is hard work for a little boy!

Anyway, here are some pictures from the last few weeks. Enjoy!

25 Random Things About Me....

Wow! This tagging thing is catching on like crazy, but it's kind of fun. This tag came from Kimberly, and these were the instructions. I am supposed to write a list of 25 random things about me. Then, I am supposed to tag 25 people as well as the person who tagged me. So, here goes...

1. I love to swim. Although I have fallen behind the last couple of weeks, I usually swim 3 times a week. I started it after I had Hayden.
2. I absolutely LOVE ice cream and could eat it all the time. My favorite? Maggie Moos and Cold Stone...they mix whatever you want in your ice cream...what could be better than that?
3. I really enjoy cooking. My specialty? Cheesecakes and baking. I'm thinking about turning the cheesecake thing into a semi-business during the holidays.
4. I'm a huge math and science nerd, especially math. Almost everything I see, I relate to math in some way. I'm weird.
5. I can't stand eating semi-warm food. It has to be piping hot.
6. When I eat a hamburger that I cook myself, I have to tear the cheese off the corners (the cheese that hangs off the edge) and distribute it evenly on my burger.
7. Chris and I met on a blind date our freshman year. We were married 4 years later and were only engaged for 14 weeks. We were ready to get married, and my mom and I are quick planners. :o)
8. I am so glad I have a God who sent His Son to die for me. I am so glad that being a Christian and going to heaven is as easy as confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord and believing in your HEART that God raised him from the dead. (Romans 10:9)
9. I've broken both of my feet, in the matter of only a couple of months. Oh, and I should probably add that I broke them both falling down the SAME stairs. Clumsy, I know!
10. I enjoy playing tennis, but I haven't played since before I was pregnant.
11. I grew up in the big city of Pelahatchie, MS but went to school at Brandon. My parents were both educators in Brandon, so that's why I got to go to a different school.
12. My brother and I both raised pet cows (these were calves who had moms that died). My brother had Alex and D.C. (stood for da' cow), and I had Alexandra (one of Alex' calves).
13. We also (mostly my mom and I) raised a baby squirrel we named Timber. It fell out of its mother's nest. Timber died after we let it go.
14. I enjoy playing cards.
15. I was a member of Delta Gamma sorority at Mississippi State, and I love my Room 211 girls!
16. I wear a coat a lot of the time when I'm inside, and it drives my sweet husband crazy!
17. I love trout fishing, and my mom and I make a trip to Heber Springs, AR every year.
18. I love Burt's Bee balm...it's a great chapstick.
19. I had three hernia surgeries in one year in college, and all three were rare for me to have. I usually manage to defy medical odds. My brother says I should donate my body to science.
20. My full name is Melissa Doris Patrick Davidson, but since I've been married, I'm Melissa Patrick Davidson. Doris is my grandmother's name. I've been called Missy since I was born, though.
21. I love being a wife and a mom.
22. My mom drank castor oil to get me here. She must have been ready to not be pregnant anymore. She laughed (happily) when I was born and she found out I was girl. Probably because she was so tired of dealing with my dorky brother. Hehehe...
23. I am really perplexed why the Germ-X and Purell bottles (even Clorox cleaner) all say that they kill 99.9% of germs. Is anyone else wondering about the other 0.1% of germs, or is it just me?
24. I really hope my child doesn't like Barney and Baby Bop. I find them extremely annoying. I'm more of a Pooh girl.
25. I am not a decorator. Just come look at my house! I do hope to get it decorated a little along the way, though.

Okay, that's it! Whew, I thought I'd never finish. Now, I have to tag 25 different people. So, if you are reading this and you have a blog, that means you - especially Tracie, Robyn, Mary Lee, Lori, Dee Dee, Ginny, Tiffany, Jill, and Melissa! Don't pretend like you didn't read this and skip out on this fun activity. Do it, or else! Hehehe... Oh, and if you have a blog and I don't have your blog address, post a comment to give me your blog address.

6 Months Old!

I can hardly believe that Hayden is 6 months old today! I know that the one year mark for a baby is always super exciting, but I'm almost as super excited about him being 6 months old. The last half of a year has been so wonderful, and Hayden has definitely filled this house with so much joy and excitement. Chris and I love our "Little Man" so much!

Hayden in his high chair...That's sweet potatoes on his mouth!

Last Thursday, I had to take Hayden to the pediatrician because of a sinus infection, so they went ahead and did his 6-month checkup and shots then...since he wasn't running any fever. Hayden came in at a whopping 21 pounds and remains in the 95th-97th percentile for his height, weight, and head circumference. He was a really big boy when he got his shots and only cried for a few seconds, just long enough to make the pretty nurse feel sorry for him...he is such a ham and flirt! Oh, and he's feeling much better after getting some Amoxicillin...he loves that pink stuff!

Hayden has lots of new tricks he loves to do. Since a little before three months old, he has been rolling over, but last week, he moved from rolling over one way to rolling clear across the room. And, a 6 month old who is 21 pounds and as long/tall as he is can get across the room pretty quickly when he wants to. He's beginning to pull himself up to a sitting position when he's in my lap, but he can't quite get the balance right to sit up on the floor by himself.

One of the other things he is doing is something Chris and I call "kissing me." He loves to put his hands on both sides of my face, bring my face toward his, and put his entire mouth around my chin. I think it has something to do with teething, but it is super cute. He's done it to Chris a couple of times, but he does it to me ALL the time. One morning, Chris was holding Hayden, and Chris gave me a kiss goodbye. Right after that, Hayden grabbed my face, put my chin in his mouth, and then let go with a smile like, "There you go, Mommy. There's your kiss from me." Also, I'm pretty sure I won't end up with any hair after this whole hair pulling stage is over!

Even though he can't totally sit up by himself yet, we've started feeding him in his high chair and letting him ride in his stroller without his car seat. He especially loves riding in his stroller, because he loves people and being able to watch people. He just rides and smiles and flirts. What a ham!

Hayden in his stroller...ready to go!!!

Oh, and I'll give everyone an update on the pacie adventure. He did great when we took the pacie away, or I guess I should say that he did great after I broke his pacie. We had two nights of screaming when we put him to bed, and that was it! It was remarkably easy.

Happy 6 month old birthday, Little Man. We love you!

I've Been Tagged...Thanks, Tracie!

Thanks to my wonderful sister-in-law, Tracie, I've been tagged. So, here goes. These are the instructions: Go to my picture folder on my computer, go to the fourth folder and the fourth picture in that folder, post it, and explain it...no cheating.

Now, this really is funny, Tracie...and you can tell my brother that YOU were the one who put me up to this. First of all, I have two "My Pictures" Folders on my computer, so I figured I should go to the first "My Pictures" folder I ever created. So, I browsed, went to the fourth folder and the fourth picture, and this is what I found.



This picture is one I scanned into my computer from my wedding. This, of course, is my brother kissing me. And, now, he's really going to kill me. Oh dear! I didn't cheat, I promise.

Now, I'm suppoed to tag four other people. I tag Tiffany Brooks, Melissa Cook, Dee Dee Williams, and Kimberly Neyland. Follow the instructions to the "T."