Let it snow! . . . and other December Fun

Happy December! (belatedly so). Below are pictures from Levi's first snow.

[A note to our family--contrary to your popular opinion, the snow does NOT get that bad here; it was all gone the next day. NOT a good reason to "avoid travelling in the winter" :-) ]

He's not so sure . . .

Whoa--it's way too cold!!

I don't think he liked the snow that much--he's face turned red out of shock on how cold it felt. Just wait until next year . . .

He is really just content sitting there playing with his toys. Still no hint of an interest in crawling.

I think the below two pictures are hilarious. We went to visit some friends, the Wootens, and Levi was just content chillin' on the couch, mesmorized by Christopher (he seems to be fasinated in men with glasses or facial hair). He just sat there loungin' like a little man!

Don't get too excited from this picture!! It is posed. Levi cannot yet do this on his own; infact, it is even quite difficult to get him in this position. Grandpa is the culprit:

My parents, Grandpa and Grandma, were our only Christmas visitors this year. They came up the 1st full week of December. Sadly, I didn't take any pictures of there visit (other than that above). I was still working and on overnight call twice during their stay, so I, unfortunately, saw them a little bit. There was good bonding time, however, on their end with Levi, which is great.

Grandma discovered that Levi could sit in this spot for quite awhile playing with the basket of toys. Good to know!!

Daddy and Levi have gotten into quite a routine. While I'm heading out to work early, Daddy give Levi his morning bottle while he jumps in the shower. This little boy, 7 months old now, can palm that bottle like nothing else. Here he is just one-handing it.

The following great pictures are taken by Grandma when she visited. Thanks for the sweet pictures! Merry Christmas!

Momma Doc

. . . and my little doc. :-)
So, I've been working full-steam now as a new mom. Working over-full-time. How has it been? Well, thanks for asking.

Overall, it has been going well, and life is good. I really do enjoy my work: enjoy taking care of patients, enjoy the intellectual challenge of the medical field, and the push to always keep learning and passing that onto others--patients and other residents / medical students. I feel very blessed to have such a unique profession where I can significantly impact many people and receive personal satisfaction.

The hours. That's the kicker. I am not a big fan of working 70-80+ hours per week. I don't like having only 4 days off per month. That's really the hardest part. I guess that's a big DUH. You know, because of my hours, I had been really worried about missing out on Levi's growth and development in such a fun, exciting time where so much happens. The worry is not completely gone, but it is not as bad as I thought it'd be. I am not missing out on as much as I thought I would. Yeah, it stinks to not come home some nights until after Levi goes to bed. It's sad that I'm lucky to nurse him just once per day (dinner time) (yeah, I'm still pumping/breast feeding). And, I am sad to miss out on just hanging out with him during the day, experience life together, and enjoy his babbling, laughs, and sitting "happy dance" when he gets excited.

Despite all that I could be sad about (and am sometimes hit with), life as a Momma Doc is good. I really treasure our time together. Levi definitely recognizes me and knows me as his Mama. When I come home from work, or when Dustin brings Levi to visit me at work, he recognizes me and expresses an excitement in seeing me that he doesn't do for anyone else. It warms my heart so. I have been able to spend good, quality time when we are together. Thanks to Dustin (and Brittany!), he keeps me in the loop so that I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything, and I am able to have an active role in "directing" his care. Really, Dustin is just an incredible husband, and he is the reason I give when people ask me, "How do I do it?" I am humbled by how much he serves our family in taking care of Levi when I'm not around and keeping our household from falling apart. I praise God for him. I also praise God how he continues to grow our marriage, and how things are better now than they have ever been.

All in all, I am happy about being a working mom. I get the best of everything. Sure, I have little-to-no down-time for "myself", but it's OK. I look forward to the day when I can control my schedule and eventually work part-time (how amazing that will be!). Meanwhile, I am trying to practice "contentment in all things". As Paul continues to say in Phillipians 4, "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" -- even finish medical training while being a wife and mother.

Just some fun pics of Levi sportin' his scrubs, like his Mama:


Here's me passed out, post call from one of my 30 hour shifts. Dustin came home early from work and put Levi in bed with me for his afternoon nap. We had a nice 2+ hour nap together! :-)

November pics

Just chilin':

Happy, 6 month-old Birthday, Levi! (when the below picture was taken--November 16th, 2008)Six months really is a significant milestone. It is just about this time that Levi started sitting up well, unsupported. On one hand, it is exciting to watch Levi grow, experience the world, and reach new milestones. On the other hand, it is bittersweet to know my little baby boy is no longer a little infant. It's weird to see all these other new babies being born and babies *younger* than Levi!

It was the beginning of November, just prior to 6 months, when Levi first started rolling from his back to his belly. Below are a series of fun pictures that Brittany, his sitter, took of Levi, capturing one of these first moments. I was so thankful for her sharing this with me! Below is Levi battling Ruthie for her book.

He see's what he wants . . .

Here he goes . . .

Can't quite reach the book . . .

He did it!! (Levi is saying, "Ruthie, no, it's mine!!")

A week or so later, I tried to capture my own step-by step roll at home:

Apparently, books are a great motivator!

Proud Mama with her big boy!

Dressed for the cold, and holding his favorite ball.

Our sweet friend, Mandy Marshall, made this sweet hat for Levi--an early Christmas present. It will be treasured in our family for years! It is the cutest Santa hat I have ever seen. :-)

Some more random shots as the month progressed:

He's still a skinny boy, but loves to eat!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

My mother-in-law was so sweet to come in to town for Thanksgiving and did most of the cooking for us. I had to work the majority of Thanksgiving Day (I actually got off work a lot earlier than I thought I would--like at 1:30pm), so Nana came in town and helped make the yummy, southern Thanksgiving dinner for her boy. :-)

D very happy and excited about the spread: roasted turkey, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole, stuffing (my contribution), macaroni and cheese, cranberries, green beans, and, of course, corn bread. Oh, don't forget dessert: chocolate pie, pumpkin pie, and fudge. Needless to say, we didn't have to cook for a long time after this meal. :-)

Levi's Thanksgiving Eating Experiences:

This boy cries whenever the food stops coming. Sometimes I can't shovel it in fast enough! He wants more sweet potato here . . . :-)

First vanilla wafer! It was a winner . . .

. . and bread!
Nana loving on her grandson.

Aunt Carol also came to visit the weekend after Thanksgiving.

Levi LOVES his "Johnny Jumper"--he goes crazy bouncing in these things. I tell ya, this boy has some serious leg muscles. :-)

Levi sportin' his Alabama PJs after Alabama's win over Auburn. Roll Tide!

I love this little coat for Levi and his adorable moccasins.