Wallace is 4 months old today!

Yesterday Wallace and I went to the Sears in Fairfield to have photos taken. 


Here is the link:
http://www.SearsPhotos.com/ViewSharedAlbum.aspx?ShareID=0db010b4-8b62-4ab6-8287-b2ee51031948

Grandpa-  after you click the link -on the right hand side of the screen the 5th thing down is a link to view the photos as a slide show. I posted my favorite photos on here though!

We had a very good time at Sears! I made some new friends and one of them gave me a package that she already paid for! The deal expires in one year. I am super excited!

I was talking to the photographer and she told me that they are hiring in the photo department. I'm going to submit my application and see if they call me.

In the morning Wallace has his 4 month well baby appointment. They will weigh and measure him and then give him shots. 


Days ago I ate 4 fortune cookies with fortunes that read: 
"Be prepared to receive something special with no strings attached."
"You will soon have the opportunity to improve your finances."
"Your life will be prosperous if you use your creativity."
"Your lucky number for this week is the number five"


I felt like they were prophetic... because I had been praying that the Holy Spirit get in touch with me and give me some hope or something big like that.  A few days later my friend Gay gave me a card with a gift in it at Bible study, and then yesterday my new friend gave me a pre-paid photo package certificate. Also there is now the prospect of a creative job in my future. I say thank you Lord!

I have begun volunteering at the St. Anthony's Bread. I have been calling it  The Closet , please check it out. I am going to put together quilts and teddy bears to be distributed to the Davis and Winters health clinics. I am the lead Crafts person. It is going to be up to me to organize all the people and projects and then lead the classes. I think that this is going to be very good for me!

Step 1: Asses The Landscape

Step 2: Kick Kick Kick

Step 3: Roll Over!

 I have not had much time to myself since my last post. Wallace is now quite the mover and he needs nearly constant interaction. Right now he is in his walker schooched up under my chair sucking on my skirt. Wallace covers grate distances very quickly in his walker! He can go in circles, forward, backward, turn corners- he is amazing. Wallace can scoot himself on his face anywhere I let him. I worry that he will hurt his face if I let him just go! Last Friday we went to Mommy and Me and he "crawled" around on his blanket on the library floor. He sat up, flopped forward, schooched and rolled over.

 Wallace and Baloo finally met! I was concerned for Wallace's safety when I first put him next to Bun but I QUICKLY changed my mind. Wallace could easily hurt Baloo! He almost kicked him square in the head! I saved Bun just in time. I feel like if Wallace ever does get bit it will be his own fault for tormenting Bun.

 Wallace has become an expert hair/fur puller! I have to have help getting his little fingers out of my hair sometimes. Every time he pets one of the animals I have to take fur out of his hands.

one more thing

It was a year ago yesterday that we found out that we were pregnant with Wallace, and a year ago tomorrow that Dylan's leg broke for the second time.

Wallace 16 Weeks

I just got bitten by Molly the cat! I wanted to punched her in the head after she bit me but I stopped myself.


Wallace is 16 weeks old today!

Wallace found his feet this week! For one day he only used his left hand but now he uses both hands to grab both feet. He is so amazing! Finding there feet is something babies are supposed to do in there 4th or 5th month.

I finally got a chance to take a clear photo of Wallace's pointy ear. The inside of his ears are pointed. His second cousin Troy also has the same point so it is an Oldham or a Fox trait.

Today when we were outside a big black Wood Bee was pestering Wallace and it landed on his Ear! Alexis shooed him away.

Another Amazing first- today Wallace rolled over for real. He can get from his tummy to his back! He did it over and over. At first I thought it was a lucky roll but the more I put him back on his belly the easer he was rolling, the more confident he got. He uses his legs mostly, he hasn't figured out how to use his shoulders yet- all he really knows about his arms is that he has hands. He was scooting around on the bed face first, arms down, butt up propelling himself with the balls of his feet. We were laughing so hard! Wallace would have gone of the foot of the bed if Dylan hadn't stopped him and flipped him over.

Tonight when we went on our walk we walked 4 laps around the park and it took us 20 minuets. I felt really good! I would have gone on longer if the light had stayed. The park was tagged last night. 4 big tags on the pathway and the fence!


Today Dylan finished the couch and cut the bed above the chairs in half to be a shelf! Baloo fits up there perfect and I can get to him super easy! We can sit in the chairs and I will be able to acsess the space and the cubbords behind the shelf more easally! I am so excited, Dylan gave us so much more space! Next I want to stain the exposed wood on the couch and the new floor and then paint the walls.    

These are the tomatoes that were picked tonight! I can't wait for salads! We now only have two watermelons.

Here is some string cheese trivia for you
Q: Can you name the first national park?

.flowers we saw on our walk.

This evening Wallace and I went on a brisk walk to the park. We walked the loop three times before walking home; it was about one mile- it took me 30 minuets. Today I had physical therapy and the therapist told me that I need to walk every day for about a mile. She gave me some exercises to do every day to strengthen my core muscles. The baby weight that I am still hefting around is not what is affecting my back, it is my lack of core strength and my scoliosis. I hyper extend my spine. This is very common in new Mamas-- or so I'm told

Wallace at the Red Robin making his punk rock face
The two of us went out to dinner with my Mama and Papa LeRoy last night

After physical therapy I went to the Sutter Davis farmers market. I had a coupon for $15 to spend if you spend $10. They gave me little wooden coins, they were cool-  printed with the farmers market logo and $1. I got a cup of hot water for $0.10 and brewed myself a cup of Mothers Milk Tea. It was nice- I shopped and tasted and came home with a lot of good things. Tonight I made vegetable curry with some of the produce for dinner. When I was gone Wallace would not eat at all. I felt bad for the boy. When I got home he ate for a long time.

Wallace grabbed this rattle out of my hand!

Today Wallace started to do the most amazing thing. When I hold his rattle in front of him he reaches out and tries to touch it. He gets it with the back of his hand, and then moves his arm until he can touch it with his fingers. And then he gently grabs it. He has only used his left hand for rattle grabbing and foot touching. I think my boy is left handed.

 

So the other day I got the funniest fortune. It read: ELEGANT SURROUNDINGS WILL SOON BE YOURS. I laughed and laughed. I live in a winnebago... a winnebago that my husband is in the middle of renovating... I sweep up saw dust and screws... funny. BUT when it is all done it will be fit for a traveling Queen -- so maybe the fortune was right on. Who knows?

Today our Miss Marley May had not one but two gentlemen callers. They were both so cute. They showed up in the back yard and hung out for over an hour. I called there respective owners and they meandered off before I got any return phone calls. She wanted out so bad! She was wining and huffing but we are not prepared for puppies this season!

I know that we have not shared pictures form our honey moon with very many people. I was looking through them today and admiring my old svelte self ;0

Dylan and I at Roaring Camp Railroads on an open air steam engine ride

Beach hiking

Giant hay maze at Arata Pumpkin Farm

Today I also got the All In One diapers sent off to St. Lewis for store credit. When I checked the cotton babies web site I saw that the diapers I am exchanging them for are on sale! 6 diapers for $86.90! They are the distributor so there prices are the very lowest.  I am excited! I would have never thought that I would get this happy about diapers. Motherhood has changed me.

Are you ready for the answer to the question?  The first National Park was Yellowstone, 1872.

Walkers and Feet

On Saturday Wallace and I went to the Church of The Open Garage in Vacaville. During Brother Wayne's sermon I was led around in the bible and I found some good verses about circumcision. I am happy with my decision not to circumcise my baby, but I have had to explain it to a lot of people. So here is my final explanation of why Wallace will not be circumcised.

Galatians 5:6 For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, it makes no difference to God whether we are circumcised or not circumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. 

Philippians 3:5 For I was circumcised when I was eight days old, having been born into a pure-blooded Jewish family that is a branch of the tribe of Benjamin. So I am a real Jew if there ever was one! What's more, I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. 6And zealous? Yes, in fact, I harshly persecuted the church. And I obeyed the Jewish law so carefully that I was never accused of any fault. 7 I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ

Colossians 2:11 When you came to Christ, you were "circumcised," but not by a physical procedure. It was a spiritual procedure -- the cutting away of your sinful nature.This is Wallace's walker. He got it on Saturday. He has such a good time playing in it. He will lock eyes with the giraffes and try and touch them. It is so cool to watch him explore his space and work to touch things. He scoots himself backwards all over the house. He moves the shapes around on the wiggely bar, bats at them, tries to lick them and grab them with both hands. He has also begun to make the EEEEHHHHHHUUU sound. He will say EEEHHHHUUU over and over, he squeals and laughs and says AAAUUUUU AAAAUUUUUOOOOO AAAIIIIAAAEEE. He is so fun!

On Saturday Wallace also got some brightly colored Halloween socks at  Target. Since we have put them on him he has begun to pay close attention to his feet. He grabs at them and sometimes when he gets ahold of one he tries to get it into his mouth. He normally gets the back of his hand in his mouth.

Today I went to the dentist and the grocery store and I left Wallace with his Papa for a few hours. I was so worried that I didn't leave enough milk! I called Dylan after my appointment and he said that they were just fine and not to worry. That was the very longest that I have ever been separated from my boy- and we both survived.

Wallace with his Grandpa and his Uncle Jack

Yesterday we all went to Rio Vista to hang out with my Dad and my brother Jack. We had a picnic in a park down town and then we played on the swing set and walked a bit. We all went to my Dad's storage and I got out my tools and my felt. I also got a few things for some projects. After the storage locker we went to the McDonald's and had soda and talked. We were together for about four hours and we had such a good time. I was reminded of how much I miss my family, and of how much I love all of them.

Wallace loves his baby sitter

Yesterday we had a silly, but sad thing happen. The bumbo was lost forever off of the roof of our van. We looked for it on the way home but we did not find it. Dylan said, "I hope that someone was blessed by a bumbo today."

Wallace tried to scratch his nose off yesterday. Today I trimmed his nails. I don't know if you can see it but his nose is all red. Dylan has been calling him Rudolf. This morning Wallace and I went to our first Mommy and Me group at the Library. I had a good time talking to other Mamas. Most of them cloth diaper- it made me feel so normal.

As of today we have five watermelons! I have been tacking photos of them every day as they jump in size but there was no reference to see how much bigger they got. So today I took photos with this white stick. I will keep adding pictures as I take them.

 

My Bronze Mums

In the morning Wallace and I are going to The Church Of The Open Garage in Vacaville. I'm really looking forward to it. We missed last meeting when we were all sic and I feel like I truly missed out! Every time I'm there I am so moved- I feel the Lord so strongly! The bible calls us to fellowship- I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to break bread with other believers.

 The Avocado Tree, The Christmas Tree and the Mum

I want to leave you with a few verses out of Proverbs 19

8 To acquire wisdom is to love oneself;
  people who cherish understanding will prosper.

17 If you help the poor, you are lending to the LORD—

  and he will repay you!

Sears Photo Studio

Here is a link to our album at the Sears Photo studio:

http://www.SearsPhotos.com/ViewSharedAlbum.aspx?ShareID=987446b9-be8a-49a9-af8a-3a2938d84bdb

Wallace 14 weeks

tongue out-hand in

This is what Wallace does every time  I change him. I say,"here you hold this," and he takes his pants and puts them on his head. I think that his pants look like a head dress. Big Chief Walla Lily.

His yellow onesie is a John Lennon issue outfit. It has little giraffes singing "imagine all the people." The stripes have music notes in them. I think it is the finest garment that any of the young McMannis' have. 

Big Chief Walla Lily.

I change his pants on the washing machine now. It has helped my back a lot, and I feel less in the way. Less like the living room is a nursery. Speaking of my back- Tomorrow morning I have my first physical therapy appointment. I am looking forward to it. My insurance will not cover chiropractor appointments but they do cover physical therapy. I will hopefully get some relief from my Scoliosis soon.

This morning we measured Wallace and he is now 27 inches long! I tried to put him in a onesie that he wore on Sunday and it was way to short. I think that he has about one more week in all of his 3 month size clothes. Today Wallace had a bath. This is his bunny towel. I got it at a thrift store in Woodland for $2.00! It is from Crate and Barrel and it has the name Allison embroidered on the back of it. It is in great shape and neither Dylan or I mind that it has a girls name on it. Happy Mama- Happy Baby! I got this towel and his John Lennon onesie (for $0.75) at the same time.

Wallace has begun to make the motor boat sound with his mouth. He can only do it for a second or two. When I make the sound at him he smiles and laughs. Sometimes he tries to do it back at me. He has also discovered his reflection. At first he would just look at my reflection and smile at it but today he locked eyes with himself and started flapping around, cooing and smiling.

Tomorrow we are all going to Rio Vista to visit with my Dad and my brother Jack. I'm looking forward to it!