Grandma and Grandpa Merkel Visit

We have had an exciting few weeks!  Our friends Andy, Angie, and their baby boy Garrett came to visit us over Labor Day.  Last week my parents came to visit.  It was nice having them around because we didn't have to take Beckett to daycare or "school" as I like to call it.  Beckett seems to be doing new things everyday!  He can roll like a champ and now will only sleep on his side or his tummy.  He is drooling quite a bit, so we are thinking he will start teething soon.  He has been sleeping better the past few nights, so hopefully that will last for awhile longer before his mouth really starts to hurt.  He wants to put EVERYTHING in his mouth and gets angry if we don't let him.  He is still very smiley and happy in the morning, which makes me sad that only Joe gets to see him during the week.  We took him to a pumpkin patch to take some pictures, and of course, I already have his Halloween costume and had to immediately take pictures.  Who cares if Halloween is still a month away?!  If Joe and I can't party this year, Beckett damn well better look cute!

On a sadder note, we found out today that Shorty, the beloved dog of Joe's family, had to be put to sleep today.  He was one of the sweetest dogs I have ever seen.  He was HUGE and scared of his own shadow.  His bathtub was his favorite hiding place and he loved to swim in their pool.  Shorty was a great dog and he will be missed by all of us.  I hope he is in puppy heaven with an endless supply of chewies and babies that Noodle can't chew up when she comes to visit.  Miss ya, Big Guy.

This blog won't let me just put all of the pictures together. Here's more.

More Pictures

Moving Right Along!

Well, Joe and I have both been back at work for several weeks now.  Things are going really well.  Joe's job is good and he is enjoying his new students.  My job is fab-u-lous and I am never going back to 5th grade again!  I wasn't so sure about the switch to 8th grade, but so far, I really like it.  I have some really great kids this year.  (Of course, there are a few that are going to be a pain in my ass, but most of them are really good.)  Eighth graders have a lot of drama, but I haven't had one kid come and tattle on someone which I do not miss AT ALL.  I am loving teaching writing, but grading 120 papers and journals each week is time consuming.  I work with a lot of really nice people and I am starting to make a few friends.  Joe and I are meeting a lot of friendly people at Shepherd as well, and may have possibly conned Joe's boss into baby-sitting every once in awhile.

Speaking of Beckett, it seems as if he is learning and doing new things each day.  He discovered his thumb last week and now usually sucks it when he is getting sleepy.  Last week he rolled over for the first time, and now he is a rolling machine.  He can roll from front to back and back to front.  It is amazing to watch, but stinks for us because now he is not sleeping through the night.  (I put him down on his back, he immediately rolls to his side or tummy, and wakes up on his tummy soaked in pee because it has nowhere to go!)  When we put him on his activity mat he rolls from side to side.  When he is on his tummy he is able to pick his head up really high (especially if you put a bottle in front of his face) and look all around.  He doesn't hate tummy time as much as he used to, which gives us hope that he will crawl.  (Even the ladies at daycare are telling us we're screwed when he can move!)  He is doing really well at daycare and I am slowly adjusting after a week of crying.  Unfortunately, I have to leave for work so early I rarely get to see Beckett in the morning and Joe is in charge of getting him ready and off to school.  (If I call it school it doesn't make me feel so bad.)  We spend most of the evening together as long as I am not cleaning or doing school stuff.  He is really taking an interest in the dogs now, and if he is crying and Albert licks him, he completely stops and smiles.  He has had a runny nose for a few days now, but we are hoping it is just the weather.  He is going to the doctor on Tuesday (the 15th) for his 4 month check-up.  We are excited to see how much he weighs.  Not so excited for those shots though.  We'll keep that a secret from him until the dreaded day.