The Akins Family

2 Months Old (On Monday!)

2009-11-07T11:41:00.005-06:00

I can't believe Matthew is already almost 2 months old!

I took him to his Well Baby Checkup on Thursday and all went well! He has really grown in the last 4 weeks. He now weighs 11 pounds 4 ounces up from 9 pounds 12 ounces. And he is 22.4 inches long up from 21.5 inches. At this rate he will be as big as Jackson by 6 months! :) We have to get shots Monday or Tuesday, so say a little prayer for him that he doesn't run a fever (these shots sometimes will make them do that.)

This month he has managed to sleep through the night twice, but still mostly gets up about once. He is still eating like a piggy....having 3 cereal bottles a day just to keep him satisfied.

My happy little man!

30+ years of fun!

2009-11-04T19:02:00.002-06:00

All of these tractors, trucks, and diggers were my brothers.....I think they are Jackson's favorite toys right now. We may have to sneak one to Kansas!!

Picnics are FUN!

2009-11-04T18:47:00.001-06:00

We took advantage of the nice fall day we were having and had lunch outside! :)

Trunk or Treat

2009-11-01T07:16:00.003-06:00

I took my little BAT to a friend's Trunk or Treat at her church. Jackson had a great time and stood in line like such a big boy....no complaining or running off! Then we headed to see Uncle Clyde, Grandma and of course Dee Dee! I think we could have skipped the Trunk or Treat b/c he got enough candy from family to make all of his teeth fall out!

Super excited!

Already digging into candy!

He played with the cones while we waited!

Halloween shirts

2009-10-31T09:47:00.002-05:00

Getting bigger everyday!

2009-10-31T09:41:00.001-05:00

7 weeks old

Jackson and Matthew

2009-10-26T15:48:00.001-05:00

All ready for church!

Look at the chins on this kiddo!

Proud Uncle Dee

2009-10-26T15:46:00.002-05:00

Matthew and my brother!

Sweet Feet

2009-10-26T15:42:00.001-05:00

There's just something about baby feet that I love! These are some sweet feet! :)

Thanksgiving/Christmas are coming early this year

2009-10-26T15:34:00.002-05:00

Since we won't be coming to NC for Christmas this year, my mom wants to have an early Thanksgiving and Christmas for us this year. She is planning on cooking a Thanksgiving meal and then after that going into the Living Room to let the boys open their Christmas presents! But to open Christmas presents - you have to have a tree, so we spent Saturday putting up a Christmas tree! Jackson had the best time too - "more balls, more balls" is what he kept saying! I was worried he would break one and guess who ended up breaking one - ME! :)

So here are some pics of him decorating!

Concrete-1, Jackson- 0

2009-10-24T10:06:00.002-05:00

Jackson was in a fight with the concrete and the concrete won! Poor thing! I was thankful that his 2 front teeth were still in place! And of course this happens the day before I was going to get pictures made of the boys....we definitely rescheduled that!

My Rock Sar

2009-10-22T11:01:00.001-05:00

We went to visit DeeDee the other day and we always have to play the guitar....and yes it is purple, but the smallest one they have! lol

Growing by leaps and bounds

2009-10-19T13:21:00.002-05:00

Matthew had his one month appt today (a week late b/c his Doc was on vacation) and he is making lots of progress in the growing area! I wish I had Jackson's baby book with me b/c I would love to compare them.....Jackson didn't grow this fast at all!

birth weight 6 pounds 2 ounces
1 month weight 9 pounds 12.5 ounces

birth length 20.5 inches
1 month length 21.5 inches

He also had to get his Hepatitis B shot - OUCH!

Before the shot

After the shot

That's all folks!

2009-10-18T14:39:00.001-05:00

Here is my own little Porky Pig! Grinning b/c he just ate...AGAIN!

Vampire Mr. Potato Head

2009-10-18T08:35:00.002-05:00

I wanted to carve a pumpkin with Jackson this year, but seeing as I try to avoid Jackson with sharp objects....I decided to find another activity that didn't end in us going to the Emergency Room! I found this Mr. Potato Head Pumpkin decorating kit for kids and thought this would be perfect! Maybe next year we can get messy cleaning and carving pumpkins.

The finished product....I promise he was happy doing this. I don't know why the sad face!

Crystal's bday party

2009-10-18T08:24:00.002-05:00

I took Jackson and Matthew to their cousin's bday party. It was at a really neat gymnastics complex...he was a little scared of the equipment but I did get him to bounce on the trampoline and walk on the balance beam.

Aunt Flora and the boys!

This was his favorite....making lots of noise!

My very own little Picasso

2009-10-15T06:20:00.001-05:00

This is what I found when I went to check on a very quiet little boy....YIKES was I mad! He found a Sharpie (yes that I didn't have hidden well enough) and decided to show us his artistic abilities. Fortunately after some research, the Magic Eraser is taking it off with the help of a LOT of elbow grease! I am just glad I don't have to repaint this room in the next 3-4 weeks before we leave!

Jackson's stool

2009-10-13T18:14:00.003-05:00

I finally finished Jackson's stool! I can't take any credit in this idea - my friend, Cristie, made one for Matthew. Click here to see it on an earlier post if you missed it.

I did Jackson's in a Transportation Theme

And this is on the sides!

Pumpkin Picking

2009-10-13T18:12:00.001-05:00

My mom took Jackson to pick out a pumpkin the other day and she took this picture with her phone! She said he ran around and had the best time! She also said that every time she asked if this was the one to buy- he said "NO"! And he would always pick out the not so hot looking pumpkins! :)

Not a newborn anymore :(

2009-10-13T13:47:00.002-05:00

Matthew has officially outgrown all of his newborn clothes including diapers! I put this on him today thinking he might could wear it once more since it didn't have feet- WRONG! He seems to be growing like a weed. We go to the doctor on Monday for his one month appt and for a shot....but I am curious to see how much he weighs and what his length is now!

Check out the high waters!

In the middle of changing his clothes....he looks really long here!

He looks like he is tired of his photo shoot!

Sweet baby boy!

Ahh Mom much better!

One Month Old already!

2009-10-09T11:30:00.002-05:00

I can't believe Matthew has already been with us for 1 month! Time sure flies by quicker when you have the 2nd child!

Buddies

2009-10-07T16:20:00.002-05:00

And here is sweet Matthew after one of his baths!

Military IN-Dependent

2009-10-05T15:24:00.003-05:00

(I have posted this before but it was brought to my attention again this week by a friend. As we get ready for another move....I can't believe the items I can check off that I have done!) ENJOY

Lots of moving...
Moving...
Moving...
Moving far from home...
Moving two cars, three kids and one dog...all riding with HER of course.
Moving sofas to basements because they won't go in THIS house; Moving curtains that won't fit; Moving jobs and certifications and professional development hours.
Moving away from friends;
Moving toward new friends;
Moving her most important luggage: her trunk full of memories.

Often waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting...
Waiting for housing.
Waiting for orders.
Waiting for deployments.
Waiting for phone calls.
Waiting for reunions.
Waiting for the new curtains to arrive.
Waiting for him to come home,
For dinner...AGAIN!

They call her 'Military Dependent', but she knows better:
She is fiercely In-Dependent.

She can balance a check book;
Handle the yard work;
Fix a noisy toilet;
Bury the family pet...

She is intimately familiar with drywall anchors and toggle bolts.
She can file the taxes;
Sell a house;
Buy a car;
Or set up a move...
.....all with ONE Power of Attorney.

She welcomes neighbors that don't welcome her.
She reinvents her career with every PCS; Locates a house in the desert, The Arctic, Or the deep south.
And learns to call them all 'home'.
She MAKES them all home.

Military Wives are somewhat hasty...
They leap into:
Decorating,
Leadership,
Volunteering,
Career alternatives,
Churches,
And friendships.
They don't have 15 years to get to know people.
Their roots are short but flexible.
They plant annuals for themselves and perennials for those who come after them.

Military Wives quickly learn to value each other:
They connect over coffee,
Rely on the spouse network,
Accept offers of friendship and favors.
Record addresses in pencil...

Military Wives have a common bond:
The Military Wife has a husband unlike other husbands; his commitment is unique.
He doesn't have a 'JOB'
He has a 'MISSION' that he can't just decide to quit...
He's on-call for his country 24/7.
But for her, he's the most unreliable guy in town!
His language is foreign
TDY
PCS
OPR
SOS
ACC
BDU
ACU
BAR
CIB
TAD
And so, a Military Wife is a translator for her family and his.
She is the long- distance link to keep them informed; the glue that holds them together.

A Military Wife has her moments:
She wants to wring his neck;
Dye his uniform pink;
Refuse to move to Siberia;
But she pulls herself together.
Give her a few days,
A travel brochure,
A long hot bath,
A pledge to the flag,
A wedding picture,
And she goes.
She packs.
She moves.
She follows.

Why?
What for?
How come?
You may think it is because she has lost her mind.
But actually it is because she has a HEART and a love for her husband,
Who puts duty first,
Who longs to deploy,
Who salutes the flag,
And whose boots in the doorway remind her that as long as he is her Military Husband, She will remain his military wife.
And would have it no other way.

--Author Unknown

What is going on????

2009-10-03T20:32:00.004-05:00

*** Well he did it - Matthew rolled completely over on his belly this morning (Sunday Oct 4th)!

My baby is only 3 weeks old and he is trying his hardest already to roll over.....
He turns to his side to sleep....refusing to stay on his back. I guess all the groceries this kiddo is eating is making him strong. But he could slow down a little!

This isn't the best video of it b/c when I decided to try to get it on film he didn't roll as well.....but earlier if he could figure out what to do with the arm under him, he would be right over on his belly!

Unkie B and Auntie C come for a visit

2009-10-03T17:49:00.004-05:00

Our good friends from college, Brad and Cristie, came to visit and to see Matthew this weekend! I sure wish David could have been here to see them too, but we still had a nice time! Jackson kept Brad busy playing and they both got to practice with Matthew for when they have their own little one!
Thanks for coming guys!

And Cristie made this sweet stool for Matthew when he gets older....LOVE IT! (I am going to attempt making one for Jackson - she tells me it is easy.....we will see!)

And here is the side view!