It's starting to feel okay...

  Going back to work was VERY difficult at first.  Before Palmer, all I had to take care of in the morning was myself.  Shower, prep, drive to school. Done.  Learning the new balance - the new normal - took a bit of getting used to.  I still miss Palmer when I am away, but like I always said, knowing I had someone really good to care for him, really does make all the difference.  I wish I was with him, but knowing he is with Linda and Alice, and that he does so well there - or - when he is with Mimi or Big Papa and being with family who loves him, really does ease any worry that I have.  I think the other thing that is really making coming back to work bearable, is that so far, we had 3 full weeks and then Thanksgiving break.  Then we had three weeks before Christmas break (two down, one to go!!).  I cherish the moments I have with our family, and I am realizing that whether I am with Palmer all day, or with him in the afternoons, evenings, and weekends, he still knows that I am his momma.  He still knows that Ross is his main man.  My hands are fuller than ever, but so is my heart.

9 WHOLE MONTHS!!!! HOLY COW!!

Palmer,
  You are nine whole months.  That means that you have been with us on "the outside" almost as long as you were cooking inside of Mommy's belly.  Every day, your personality is coming out.  Lately, you have been so mischievous!   You are testing your boundaries, and you understand the word ,"no."  You love to go for the speaker receiver (turn the settings or turn up or down the volume by accident!).  Most of the time when we say no, you stop going for it, and just look at us, or you move on to another object.  But sometimes, your naughty side comes out!  You go for it, look at us/for us, hear no, and then keep going for it.  You are a stinker, but Palmer J, you are still adorable.  (we're still going to follow through anyway!)   You are crawling all over the place, and when I say "come on, Palmer, let's go to your room," you will usually follow right behind me.  (sometimes you have a mind of your own, and take off towards the dog bowls, or the stairs... we're working on it, though). One of your latest things that you have been doing is waving goodbye or hello, and connecting the meaning.  When I drop you off at Alice's, I love it when you wave to me before I leave.  It is so special for us to see you connecting to the world around you.  Each and every day, you are acting more and more like a toddler, and less and less like a baby.
And since you are so keen on exploring your world, you have had less and less time to drink your bottle like a baby.  You started stretching out your feedings (you only have time to eat every four hours now)  Your preferred way to eat is in the form of solids.  The solids you eat are mostly pureed food, but have also started to eat baby food with pasta (at first, you would spit out the pasta), yogurt melts and puffs.  When its meal time, the dogs are your BEST friends!   (when its not meal time, Oliver's skin crawls when you come near him.  He knows you love to tug on him and Sable!)

We have been so blessed to watch you grow and change!  You are little, but you are full of so much spunk!  (It's not the size of the dog, right?!) You really do have Lerch/Jerraid/Vance/Smith running through your veins!  You love to be social!

We love you, Palmer Jerraid!!
Love,
Mom and Dad

 We kept saying "Palmer, don't grab that!"  (talking about not grabbing the sticker on your shirt).  It was frustratingly hilarious.  You just couldn't help yourself! LOL!!!

So thankful!

Over my Thanksgiving break from school (we had a week off this year due to the new (and IMPROVED!) balanced schedule.  We got to relax the first weekend, and then on Monday night, before Palmer's bed time, we took off for Dallas.  Palmer was very good - he woke up a few times, would cry or fuss for a moment, and then go back to sleep.  We stopped in Joplin for the night, and Palmer went right down to sleep.  After a free breakfast at the hotel in the morning (Palmer tried a bit of a crossant), we headed back on the road.  By Tuesday afternoon we had arrived at the Falkensteins house.  It was so great to be back there, as Ross and I hadn't been in two years, and things really had changed since the last time we were there.  First of all, Annie's little guy, Luke, was just 5 months old the last time we were there.  Now nearly 2 1/2, he now brought his little sister, Hannah, along!  Adding Palmer to the mix, was so much fun!  He LOVED to watch Luke play like a big boy, and you could see his gears turning (oh, how he can't wait to be able to keep up with the big kids!)  It seemed like yesterday we were there, and Luke was so tiny.  How quickly they change, and grow. 
 Annie (Ross' cousin) and I were able to connect on a new level, as the last time, I had no clue what it meant to be a mom. 
 The week was filled with food, food, and more food.  Chuck and Louann were amazing hosts - very accomodating of our little family! 
While we were there, Palmer loved playing with all the new toys - on top of that list, was a little doorway toy that was just his size, as well as a play kitchen - he loved to open and close the oven, fridge, and microwave.  Oy boy!  Palmer is really moving, and really interacting with his surroundings.  It is so much fun!