First Haircut

One of the items we bid on and won at the Friends of Infant Toddler Services Gala was a haircut at a local just-for-kids hair salon. This may seem like a luxury, but let me assure you, my poor scissor skills (seriously, I was reprimanded over this, in yearbook class, in high school) plus a kid with less-than-perfect head control, is a disaster waiting to happen. So, we decided to do it up professional-style for the First Haircut.

Before: My Wild Man

The First Cut: A Bit Apprehensive

Still Not Too Sure

Maybe It's Not Too Bad

After: My Handsome Little Guy

Never Enough Time

I have all of these grand plans for the old blog, really I do, but man, this parenting thing is a little time consuming, ya know? I really admire those bloggers who actually manage to post regularly. I really wish I could be that disciplined. My main goal for this blog is to have a record. To be able to look back and see what Fletcher was doing and when. Or, if I really get ambitious, maybe I would throw in a few observations or an explanation or two. For instance, I would love to do a post like this one, kind of summing up the little things, the memories that will fade in a few months or years or one like this, which does a wonderful job of expressing the mixed feelings of pride and sadness at seeing your child struggle to accomplish the things others take so easily for granted. I feel like this on nearly a daily basis, and maybe some day I will share these observations and feelings in this blog (by the way, could those boys be any cuter?? They were born the same day as Fletch at roughly the same gestational age, and I really enjoy this blog because it kind of gives me an idea of what Fletcher would like to be doing if his body was more cooperative).

Unfortunately, my main goal has yet to be accomplished. Since my last post we have done so many things. A big trip to Texas to see Trevor's family, including Fletcher meeting his Grandpa Smykay for the very first time, more botox, insurance woes, a golf tournament with Fletcher and me serving as honorary chairmen, the list goes on. I really do plan to blog about some of those things, eventually. Tonight, however, I plan to take a small step toward that goal. So in a year or two when someone asks me what age Fletcher started to self-feed, I can say, let me check my blog... oh, on July 8, 2008 he started to independently eat little crunchies.*

Okay, a couple of clarifications for purposes of full disclosure. I may be stretching when I say self-feed or independently, as I do have to position the crunchie just so, in a way where he is able to hold it but it still sticks out far enough to get it into his mouth. But, to me it is the first step to self-feeding, and the only one we may see in awhile as he is nowhere close to holding his bottle or sippy cup on his own, so I'll count it.

Here is a little photographic proof. I regularly encourage him to hold his finger food or utensils and he always tries to get them into his mouth, and sometimes does, but has problems holding them there (what I call a "feeding drive-by"). The first picture is when I first noticed he was actually managing to eat the crunchie, but I thought he was pinning his arm with the ball and that was how he was managing. But, to my surprise, I took the ball away and he was still managing to get the food to his mouth and keep it there long enough for the bite.

So, there it is, my first pseudo-real-time report about Fletcher's development. Hopefully there will be more timely updates to come.

Until then, I also just have to post my current favorite picture of the little guy. It is just an informal shot Trevor took while Fletch was doing a little stander time in the kitchen the other morning. First haircut is on the horizon, so enjoy the crazy 'do while you can!

* For you non-toddler-moms, a crunchie is basically a cheese puff, but by a different name so we can pretend that we are not feeding our kids junk food.

March for Babies

Um, did you really believe me in my last post when I said to check back in a week for pics and an update from March for Babies? Then you must not know me very well. Yes, it is a month and a half later, and I can't claim that this post was worth the wait, but I do have some cute pictures.

Team Captain

Partial Team Picture of Team Smallest Smykay

Cool Guy Sporting New Shades

Fletcher's Sign on Baby Boulevard

Cousins Trey and Alexa

(check out their cute "Mini Fletch" Buttons)

Action Shot

This was a great event. The weather was terrific, the venue (the new Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City) was perfect, and there was loads of food and fun activities for the kids. Fletcher was perfectly behaved and believe it or not slept the entire walk as he did during the Trolley Run. The upholstery of my jogging stroller must be laced with ambien or something. Our team also raised a lot of money for a great cause and we missed placing in the top ten family teams by only $50. Thanks again to everyone who participated or donated to Team Smallest Smykay!

Two Down, One to Go

As many of you know (since I hit you up for donations) it seems to be fundraising season, at least in my neck of the woods. I serve on the Board of Directors for an organization called Friends of Infant Toddler Services of Johnson County, which supports our local early intervention program. We held our 6th Annual Stepping Stones Gala on April 12th, which included dinner, drinks, DJ, and silent and live auctions. It was a lot of work (mostly by board members other than I) but was also loads of fun and a great success.

This morning was the Trolley Run, a 4 mile run/walk down the old streetcar/trolley tracks (actually the largest timed 4-mile run in the US), that benefits the Children's Center for the Visually Impaired. I haven't posted much about it, because eventually I want to do a Super-Long NICU Summary here, but Fletcher has vision processing difficulties and receives services from CCVI. It was nearly a record cold morning in KC, but we had a great turn out for team Smallest Smykay (thanks to all who participated and donated!), and I for one finished the 4 mile course in a record time of just under 2 hours (stoping to placate babies takes time, you know). Fletcher was picture perfect the entire walk (in large part because he took his morning nap from start to finish). Here are a couple pics from the run (including one of Fletcher this morning before the race... pretty chipper for a little guy who decided he wanted to get up at 5:15 this morning, guess the anticipation was too much for him).

Our Family Team Shirt

Partial Team Picture of Team Smallest Smykay

(the runners were long gone by the time the stroller crew crossed the finish line)

My Brother and Niece at the Finish Line

My Aunt, Sister and Nephew Enjoying the Band

Our Inspiration!

Our third and final fundraiser is the March for Babies next weekend. There is still time to help me reach my goal. Just click on the link in the right hand margin to learn more about the March of Dimes, how research funded by the organization helped to save Fletcher's life, and to pledge your support. Hopefully the weather will be a bit warmer for this walk. Check back in a week or so for pictures and an update. Until then, here is a little preview of the team shirts I designed. They look great on paper, if I do say so myself. I just hope they get in on time!

Blog Redesign

So, it seems like everyone has begun spring cleaning and redesigning their blogs. I haven't had much luck at the former, but as you can see, I spent a few moments tonight doing the latter. I got my inspiration, or rather ripped off, two blogs I love to read. All you have to do is check out Cute Blogs for your background and Scrap Blog to make a banner. The best part is that it is free. And it must be super-easy if I was able to do it.

Happy Easter

Some day I will start updating more frequently than every major holiday.

But not today.

Happy New Year

So, I have a confession. I am a horrible procrastinator. Not much of a confession to those that know me IRL, because I have been like this since the day I was born. Many times I want to post a timely post like the one above and comment on the actual day, whether it be a holiday or the anniversary of a significant day for Fletcher. But, that doesn't always happen, so I either just skip the post altogether (what typically happens) or I stay up way too late to get my post in by the midnight deadline (which is what I did for Fletcher's birthday video).

That is a thing of a past now, because I have figured out how to beat the system, so to speak. I am sure the general public using blogger realized this from the get-go, but I just figured out that you can manipulate the time and date of your post. So, for those that check this somewhat regularly, you know I didn't actually post this on New Years Day. But, a year from now when I go to print this out, I won't know any better and it will be a nice timely post as far as I am concerned. Sneaky, huh.

By the way, the photo itself was taken on New Year's Eve. Fletcher was actually awake at midnight (after a couple of hours nap earlier in the evening) but, as he illustrates in this picture, insisted on chewing on the wrong side of the noisemaker. That's okay, his five-year-old cousin made enough noise for the both of them. Who knew five-year-olds were so interested in welcoming the New Year. This girl was ready to party (unlike the adults who were in bed as soon as possible after the ball dropped).