One Year Old

Maverick one year old this month!  He's a big boy, weighing in at about 26 pounds.  On the 26th, he got his first hair cut.  Gloria, a long time friend of ours, did the honors.  She also gave Rocco his first hair cut years ago.  Little man fussed at first, and then he let her do the task.  I guess it helped that he was sitting in his daddy's lap.  I took pictures while Carolyn and Rocco watched from the side.

Maverick really took off walking within the last month.  He went from using a cane, to an upside down mini golf club, to no assistance at all.  Within two weeks, he was walking!  By his first birthday he was a little pro at walking!

We celebrated his first birthday Sesame Street style!  The party was for family and held at our house on Saturday, March 23rd.  I decorated the garage and kitchen/living room. Angela, the nursery worker at our church, made the 3 hanging tissue characters.   Jennifer Taylor's mother-in-law did the cake.

 His present from us was a red Polaris Ranger that plays music and makes noise.  It's just the right size for him to push and ride on.

And here's our family at the party right before we sang Happy Birthday and Rocco blew out the candle for his brother.

 Little man dug into the cake just a little.  Then, he got upset that he was dirty.

Six Years Eleven Months

Rocco is almost seven years old. He weighs about 36 pounds and is 3 ft. 7 1/2 inches tall.  He's one tough dude.  Just look at him dressed up like a sheriff.  He loves to pretend, especially with his toy guns. 

He has a gun holster that he likes to carry around his waist.  Don't mess with this cowboy!

One of his best friends from school, Hunter, had a birthday party this month.  They enjoyed playing cowboys, even though it was supposed to be a baseball themed party.  They get together so well because they are both Georgia Dawg fans.  They've also been on the same tee ball team for the last couple of years.  

Rocco began writing about wild cats in January.  It took him about two months to complete his book.  I helped him illustrate it by copying pictures from the internet and gluing them into his pages.  I also bound it at school, so it could be published (just for our enjoyment).  He wrote the book with very little help from me.  I let him sound out many of the words that he didn't know how to spell.  I would pull up videos on National Geographic and read books to him about pumas, cougars, lions, cheetahs, jaguars, and any other wildcat you can think of.  The ending result was a well published book by my favorite six year old.  Below is a sample page.

Rocco is so into wildcats that when he comes to my room after school, he takes out my staple removers and pretends they are cheetahs with sharp teeth.

Rocco continues to love football.  If a game is ever on TV, he's either watching it or running through the house with his helmet on and pretending he's actually playing.  He jumps over Maverick's toys and runs into the couch pretending like the obstacles are other players.  Sometimes he'll ask me to announce the Bulldogs so that he can run down the hall and make his grand appearance.  He's convinced that when he grows up he is going to be a receiver for the team.

Jason is such a good dad - in the morning when he fixes Rocco's toaster streudel he will put the icing on the pastry to look like a football field.  One morning I just glumped it in one big pile.  With disgust, Rocco asked me, "What's that supposed to be, mom?"  Guess I don't do breakfast as well as daddy does.

Rocco had his first experience at the orthodontist this month.  Although he will probably need braces later, it was determined that for now he will just have some "blue glue" on his teeth.  This will keep his adult teeth from grinding and wearing down since his bite isn't just right yet.  Maybe in the summer he will get a few brackets on.  He needs to quit grinding, though, because I've already taken him three times to get glue. He keeps wearing it down.

And as always Rocco continues to be an excellent big brother.  He's actually come to Maverick's rescue several times.  Like the other day when I saw the baby put something into his mouth.  "Rocco, check his mouth. Quick!" I told him.  Sure enough, Rocco pulled out a quarter out of Maverick's mouth.  He didn't waste any time. Praise the Lord he didn't choke!  Another time he also pulled a tiny football out of Maverick's mouth.  One time the door was open going down to the basement, and Rocco closed it so that the baby wouldn't fall down the long staircase into the basement.  I now know why I had Rocco first.  What would I do without his help in watching Maverick?

11 Months Old

 Almost one year old...and where has the time gone?  I've been so blessed to just be part time at work this year.  It's allowed me to be a stay-at-home mom and be able to nurse Maverick his first full year.  We have the best time together during the day.  He's such a fast learner.  He can sign "eat" but when you ask him if he wants milk he'll start to lick his lips. 

Our little boy still loves music.  He knows where the CD player/radio is. He'll go over to it, even if it is not on, and will begin bouncing.  I often play an old Kindermusick CD that belonged to Rocco.  Maverick will just bounce and dance to every tune.  He knows what it means to pat, clap, dance, bounce, and shake.  He has several musical instruments of his own that he uses.  Maracas, shakers, jingle bells, several drums, and even a xylophone are all in the living room floor.  He even knows how to use the mallets and drum sticks. ( At church he'll often bounce to the hymns. )

A third tooth finally came through this month.  It was the large top tooth on his left.  The bottom two teeth continue to shine through!

When we open the garage door, the cat often tries to come into the garage.  Jason makes a hissing sound to scare him off.  Now Maverick has picked up on this and he hisses at any animal or anything that even resembles an animal.  The other day he began hissing at my snowmen which are on top of our kitchen cabinets. 

He is a busy little boy.  And no matter how many toys we have in the floor, he will manage to find the newest ones and explore them.  He's very familiar with some of his old favorites, like the air machine that pops balls into the air. 

He likes to drop little things into that hole though, and I'm scared he's eventually going to get his little arm stuck in it.  He likes to put balls, blocks, or just any small object into other boxes or holes.  You can rest assured we have all of our electrical outlets protected.  He is mesmerized at tiny places that his little fingers can fit into.

"No, no, no!" is something that Maverick hears several times a day.  Whether he is trying to get to our video game wires or standing on top of his play table, this little boy always seems to find a way to get into something that he shouldn't be getting into!  He's my sweet mess!

This month he finally began to blow kisses.  It's the sweetest thing to see him put his hand up to his mouth (and sometimes even his ear) and watch him pat his mouth as he sends you kisses.  He also likes to wave bye-bye now.

Maverick has a head full of curly, dark blonde hair.  I just love all of his waves.  He actually needs a hair cut, but I'm trying to hold off until he is at least one.  During his naps he sweats a lot. When he wakes up his curls are in ringlets. 

He started to take a few steps this month.  In fact, he took 3 before falling in front of his granddaddy and me.  The other day he took nine steps to his Grandnana Helen.  He's watched his granddaddy use a cane, and now he uses one, too.

 He's actually turned Rocco's kid golf club upside down and used it as his walking stick.  Pretty ingenious if you ask me!

Maverick LOVES his brother.  He just squeals with delight at times when he sees him.  He especially likes to love all over him in the morning and wake him up.  ROCCO is one word that he definitely understands!

Six Years Ten Months Old

 This Spiderman is one outstanding super hero!  At any given moment you might see him run through the house or fight off some nasty pirates with his sword to protect his baby brother.  He's been the lead guard lately who defends his mom.  Sometimes he puts on his Batman pajamas and Batman underwear; this way he can be a super hero through and through.  Rocco is all about adventure and imagination.  When bad guys are all around, Rocco is there to protect!

 He's convinced that he is going to be the next quarterback for the Georgia Bulldogs.  Then, again he may just be a receiver. H'e so good he can play offense or defense.  Any position.  You name it.

In the way of television, Rocco has really started to like the Disney sitcoms.  He watches Jessie, Dog With a Blog, Austin and Ally, and Good Luck Charlie.

Rocco is not just an excellent speller, but he is a tremendous writer.  He's working on a book at home titled "Wild Cats."  He would watch National Geographic videos online, listen to me read a book about wild cats, and then add to his book.   He even wrote on his pages on his day off from school.  When he's at school, he gets to attend a special extra class where he is learning about poetry and publishing books.

On January 6th, Rocco was baptized.  This was a special event for so many reasons.

First of all, Rocco accepted Jesus as his Savior back in December.  Once he acted on his faith and prayed to Jesus for forgiveness of his sins, he wanted to get baptized to show others that he belonged to Christ.  Rocco was one of 10 who was baptized on this day.  Since Jason is the pastor where we attend church, Rocco was baptized by his daddy!

The ten individuals were the first to be submersed in the baptism pool in our brand new sanctuary.  On this special day, we dedicated our building to the Lord, baptized 10 people, and dedicated 13 children (Maverick was one of them). Here's our family portrait that was taken that day.

Rocco is a deep thinker.  One day he asked me if he would be a kid in heaven and if time passed in heaven. Would he get older?

The other day he cracked me up with something he said.  Out of the blue in the car he said, "Mom, I'm glad I wasn't born in 1978 because I don't want to be in those wars back then."  In his mind 1978 is forever ago, and I guess when he thinks of ancient wars 1978 is as good of a date as 1800.  I laughed and told him that I was two years old in 1978. It wasn't that long ago!

10 Months Old

At ten months old, Maverick is above the 97th percentile for his height. He measured over 31 inches long, and his head circumference is 49 cm.  He is a big boy, but he is lean for his height.  His weight is slightly less than 23 pounds.  He continues to nurse and eat stage 2 Gerber fruits and vegetables.  His favorite seems to be the rice cereal that we mix with breast milk.  He tried chicken noodle soup broth and really liked it.  Gerber Puffs are a new treat that he's experienced recently.  They're small enough for his little fingers and soft enough for his new teeth and gums to chew.  This month we also introduced Gerber baby cookies.  He turns them into pure mush between his fingers and it just drools out of his mouth.  Rocco has informed me that he can't watch his brother when he does this because it is just too gross.  I think it's rather sweet.

And just look at those 2 teeth.  They're shining through really well, and we predict new ones will be coming in soon.

He cruises really well now when he is holding onto the couch.  And he's standing for longer lengths of thime without holding on.  He will slowly squat back down without just falling over all the time when we let go of his hands.

Maverick loves to be read to, especially when I sing the book to him.  At the sound of any music or rhythm he will start bouncing.  The other day David began playing the guitar at our church.  Maverick was bouncing to the beat.  That baby's got rhythm.  I keep saying that he's going to be my drummer.  He's really good at patting, and he loves his toy drum.

What a sweet mess our boy can get into!  His new thing is seeing how many Kleenex tissues he can pull out of the box before we come running with, "No, Maverick."

Throughout the day he just jabbers away.  He will go down the roll call.  Mama, dada, nana, baba...He can say, "Bye."  He knows ball and can say it, too.  He doesn't wave as much as he used to .  We are currently working on blowing kisses.  He's not there yet.

He knows how to use a brush now.  It's cute watching him try to fix his hair.

One thing Maverick loves is the large canvas portrait of himself that hangs above his changing.  "Where's the baby?" I'll ask him.  He is a squirmy worm when we change him.  He will roll over, get up, and try to grab his picture.  I'll point out his mouth, eyes, and nose on the canvas.  Then, I'll go for Maverick's belly and tickle him.  He loves it.  Peek-a-Boo is still another one of his favorites, too.  He will also play pat-a-cake with his hands open now instead of closed.  Of course we are holding his hands to help h im.

I'm still so blessed to be working just part time at the school.  I only teach Tues and Thurs from 8 - 3:30 and Fri 8 - 11:30.  This allows me to be at home with Maverick. Nana and Granddaddy watch him on Tuesday and Thursday.  They have to put up barricades in the living room just to contain him.  Jason watches him Friday morning.

And he's ten months now but this was his first time he ever slept in his crib. Nana laid him down for a two hour nap while I was gone one day.  When she told me he was in his bed I couldn't believe it.  I told her to take a picture, and she did.  Just look at that sweet little miracle.

Salvation Has Come

On December 23rd, the Sunday before Christmas, our church had a time set aside for families to come in the evening  for a candle light communion.  As we were getting ready to go to church, I told Rocco that we wouldn't be having a regular service and that it wouldn't last as long tonight because we were going to have the Lord's Supper.  I also told him that he would not partake of it because he didn't understand what it fully meant to be saved.  He informed me otherwise.  

As we made our way to the bathroom to finish getting ready he let me know that he did understand what it meant.  

"You have to ask Jesus into your heart," he told me.  He continued to let me know that he had already prayed that prayer to ask Jesus to save him.  He said one Wednesday night he prayed by himself before he went to sleep.  He said that he had asked Jesus to forgive his sins.  Could this be?  I was beside myself!  I continued to ask him questions.  Yes, he believed that Jesus had died for our sins. And he knew what sins were and that he was in need of salvation.   Yes, he believed that Jesus arose again, and He certainly is the Son of God.  And he even told me that when those trumpets sound that he was going!

Ever since he was a baby, Jason and I have prayed for his salvation.  I have prayed and asked God so many times to speak to Rocco's heart at the right time and place.  Being so young and tenderhearted like he is, I wanted him to have a true salvation.  Anyone can repeat a prayer, and I knew Rocco wanted to go to heaven.  Who wouldn't?  But with him learning so much about Jesus in Sunday School, Children's Church, Wednesday night's Team Kid, and in the car through a lot of our talks, I knew he was beginning to understand what salvation was.  A few months ago he even told me with much urgency, "We've got to find out if I'm saved!"  I just kept putting it off because I didn't want to force him into anything.   I wanted to be sure he understood what he was doing and how important this decision to follow Christ was.  It is a life changing decision.  

And so I told him that when we got to church we would talk to his daddy.  After he assured me that he had prayed to accept Jesus, he asked, "So does this mean I can have the crackers and juice?"  

When we got to church, it was near the end of the drop in times.  After the Callan family finished their communion, I had Jason talk to Rocco about his salvation.  

Once Jason talked to him, he saw that  Rocco was sincere in his prayer to trust Jesus as his Savior and seek him for forgiveness of his sins.  Seeing he had accepted Jesus, he was ready for his first Lord's Supper.  Rocco knew that the cracker represented the broken body of Jesus and the juice stood for his blood.  He also knew that the Last Supper was when Jesus ate with his disciples one last time before he was nailed on the cross.  

 Here's our family after we took the Lord's Supper.

He's such a good listener.  The other day he told me, "Mommy, I'm glad we don't live in the Old Testament. We would have to kill animals."  He knows Jesus is our sacrifice, and He knows He is the Son of God who can save...even a six year old.  

What an awesome God we serve and what a Christmas this has been already!  Thank you Jesus for the Holy Spirit who still speaks to us and draws those of all ages unto salvation.  Thank you for speaking to Rocco's heart and for answering his prayer for salvation.  It just takes a simple, childlike faith.  Thank you for the simplicity of it.  It may be simple but it took a very large sacrifice.  I know it cost you everything, Lord!

Six years nine months

6 years and 9 months old - Rocco is enjoying first grade.  He is one of the top readers in his class.  Jason and Rocco are a team on the Accelerated Reader program.  Rocco will bring a book home, most of the time it is a non-fiction book about animals.  He and Jason will read it three times together.  Then, Rocco will take a test at school on it.  I've helped him a good bit, too.  Only Meg Kapustay has more points than him.  He has over 20 points which means he's read at least 40 books this school year.  Several months ago Jason told him that he would give him whatever he wanted at the end of the school year if he would reach 20 points.  Well, only half of the school year is over and Rocco has reached it!  Here he is with his first grade teacher, Mrs. Ashworth.  He's wearing  a scarf that she made him.  For Christmas, she made every student a scarf and also gave them a bag of goodies.

Here are a few of his classmates at their Christmas party before school let out for the holidays.  

And speaking of Christmas, Rocco racked up this year.  He only asked Santa for one thing when he talked to him at school.  More hexbugs with tracks.  Santa brought that and so much more!

 Some of his favorites were the Spiderman tent...

 toy knife that has a fake blade going in and out...

and he even got a Sheriff's outfit.

I don't have a picture of him, but Rocco's favorite toy was a turtle that lights up.  When you turn off the lights, Stanley (what we named the turtle) will project stars and the moon on the ceiling.  It is like a Dream Light, but Nana Carolyn found this one because he isn't fuzzy and I'm not allergic to him.  Rocco goes to sleep each night with Stanley lighting up his room.

 This Christmas season we stayed busy at church.  Construction was in full swing on our new sanctuary.  The children's play was held in the old sanctuary while we waited for it to be finished.  The title of the play was The Joy Story.  Rocco played a toy soldier who cleared the way for the toys to arrive.  I was the toy store owner, Mrs. Joy.

 The adult choir was able to sing in the new church building for their musical, Noel Born is the King.  Rocco played the young, boy Jesus.  Here he is with the wise men.

 Of course my birthday was this month.  I turned 36.  My best friend from South Carolina showed up at our house on that Friday after I got off work.  She drove four hours to come see me.  Surprise!  Jennifer, Rocco, and I went to Chattanooga to see the Polar Express on the big 3-d I-Max screen.  Jason stayed behind to watch Maverick.  After the show, we drove to LaFayette and ate at the Dari Dip with my mom and nana.  Afterwards, we drove about a mile and stopped to see the lights downtown.  Even though it is small, I love going there every year because all of the lights are synchronized to the music.  My brother, his girlfriend, and my dad joined us.  Here's Jennifer and me.

And here we are at the lights.  Rocco and I danced...and his favorite part was racing Tyler and me around the track.

In other updates this month, Rocco lost another tooth.  This one was on the bottom.  He lost it Dec 20th.  It's neat that I have one son losing teeth and another one getting them.

Rocco loves to sing Jingle Bells, but when he does he sings, "Bells on bobcats ring!"  He's such a fan of wildcats, and even though I told him that wasn't right, he just keeps on laughing and singing it that way.  I love my silly boy!