Mini Me

Easter Number One!

2011-04-24T23:40:00.001-04:00

Easter has always been a huge holiday in our family. Talon had a great time finding his "leavened bread." We made a line of them down the hallway and had his gifts at the end. He was so cute!

Dad and Doug showing Talon the "sin"

I found one!!!!

Hey Mom, hand it over!

~11 months old

Playing in the Hose

2011-04-22T23:18:00.001-04:00

Mom was watering the newly planted roses and Talon wanted to "help." Doug held him and swung his legs in and out of the water. He loved it!

~11 months old

Bath Time with Daddy part II

2011-04-21T21:45:00.000-04:00

~11 months old

My First Trip to the Zoo

2011-04-17T13:34:00.001-04:00

Talon was very chill at the zoo. He always had a foot thrown up to rest on his tray and a content look on his face. He and his best buddy Sly had so much fun.

Both boys zonked on the way out... way too much fun!

~ 11 months old

Silas and Aunt Morgs Came for a Visit!!!

2011-04-14T12:07:00.005-04:00

Coming and going!

I might have accidentally dumped flour all over Sly!

~11 months old

Oreos... nuff said!!!

2011-04-05T01:56:00.000-04:00

~11 months old

My First Surgery

2011-03-29T01:56:00.000-04:00

Talon had G button surgery on March 29th. He did GREAT!!! We stayed for eight days and then left as fast as we could. The hospital was great though. Everyone was wonderful and the whole experience was a positive one.

~10 months old

Good Thing Mommy's Phone is Water Proof

2011-03-24T01:44:00.000-04:00

~ 10 months old

Sitting On My Seat Rather Than In

2011-03-18T01:24:00.000-04:00

~10 months old

Trying Out New Food

2011-03-01T00:59:00.002-05:00

~9 months old

Hanging Out with Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Sarah

2011-02-25T23:57:00.003-05:00

~9 months old

First Two Teeth

2011-02-25T23:55:00.000-05:00

I got my first two teeth this week. Boy was that a relief. They just kept pushing and pushing and pushing and pushing and then... pop! They just showed up one day. I tell you what... it hurt like crazy before they came but now I don't even feel them at all. That is, I don't feel pain at all... I still feel the weird, hard lumps that poke into my lips all of the time. Guess they are their for a reason although I am still not quite sure why.

~9 months

Talon's Computer

2011-02-25T20:10:00.000-05:00

Talon loves to push buttons on the computer. Unfortunately, I am usually trying to use it when he does! We decided to pull out my old computer just for him. We plugged it up so that when he pushed the buttons it would make sounds. He promptly started plucking off keys and putting them in his mouth. About 11 letters, 4 numbers and 3 symbols later we threw the computer away but he loved it while it lasted!!!!

~9 months old

Playing with Papa

2011-02-25T00:21:00.000-05:00

~9 months old

Bath Time with Mommy

2011-02-24T23:10:00.000-05:00

~9 months old

Not Quite a Cardboard Box

2011-02-24T22:53:00.000-05:00

~ 9 months

Just Showing Off My Eyes

2011-02-24T22:40:00.002-05:00

~ 9 months

An Outlet for Talon's Energy

2011-02-24T22:35:00.000-05:00

Talon discovered wall outlets a few weeks ago. He know exactly what to do with them. Watch how he tries to plug the cord into the outlet!

Maybe I will see what it tastes like!

Maybe I will see what the wall tastes like!

~ 9 months old

Playing and Eating

2011-02-23T22:42:00.006-05:00

Talon loves his highchair... as long as he has an ongoing stream of things to throw on the floor!

Ever since Doug was a little boy he has held his breath by using his upper lip to cover his nostrils. February 9th, at just over 9 months old, Talon does the same thing!

Real men wear Old Spice

Mom... that is good!

MORE!

~ 9 months old

Blank

2011-02-23T21:29:00.003-05:00

Blank

2011-02-23T21:29:00.001-05:00

Blank

2011-02-23T21:28:00.003-05:00

My First Christmas

2011-02-23T21:27:00.004-05:00

Tasty Treats

2011-02-23T21:26:00.000-05:00

Doug snuck Talon some chocolate without my knowledge! I was disappointed that I missed the very first taste but I joined in quickly thereafter. Talon LOVES chocolate! After a yummy treat he decided to try to snack on my face as well!

~ 7 months old

Me and My Cousin Ludie Loo

2011-02-03T01:43:00.000-05:00

~6 1/2 months old

Boo

2011-02-03T01:35:00.000-05:00

~ 6 1/2 months old

Trying to Sit Up

2011-02-03T01:31:00.000-05:00

~6 1/2 months old

Diapers... Not Just Good for Poop!

2011-02-03T01:21:00.000-05:00

~6 1/2 months old

The One Two Flop in It's Early Stages

2011-02-03T01:17:00.000-05:00

~6 months

Tricks with Dad

2011-02-03T01:15:00.000-05:00

If you are thinking his diaper looks huge you are right... he is doubled up for the night!

~6 months

Exploring

2011-02-03T01:08:00.001-05:00

Talon really started exploring when he turned 6 months old. He found the cabinet next to the tv and loved pulling it open a few inches (he couldn't get it any farther cause he was in the way) and letting it go. He would do this over and over again.... so cute!

~6 months

Out With the Old In With the New

2011-02-03T00:28:00.000-05:00

~ 6 months

My First Ornament

2010-12-08T18:50:00.000-05:00

Thanks Auntie Sarah and Uncle Jimmy!

~7 months old

My First Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T18:32:00.000-05:00

My Hannah

~ Almost 7 months

Gerber Baby

2010-11-08T22:08:00.001-05:00

Go vote for Talon as a Gerber baby!!!

http://www.gerber.com/photo/?entryid=166165&/#/detail/

My First Bruise

2010-11-08T15:01:00.000-05:00

Mommy feels like a horrible mommy. My very first bruise was inflicted upon me by my mother. She snapped my footsie (as Daddy calls it) and pinched my skin. I definitely let her know how I felt about that!

Yes folks.... the dark blue mark on his chest!

~6 months old

No Tricks but Lots of Treats

2010-11-08T14:54:00.000-05:00

Talon absolutely loved his first halloween. We did our family tradition of watching a movie with the lights off so the trick or treaters would leave us alone. He gnawed on the Snickers bar for so long that we were worried it would break open. It was almost as if he knew what was inside. You can watch the movie to see his reaction when we tried to take it away.

I picked the movie!

We ate like three pieces each...

~5 months old

Hanging Out and Sitting Up

2010-11-08T12:38:00.000-05:00

Mr. Man played on the floor until we were ready to go visit Grammy and Papa at their campsite. Talon sat up by himself for the first time while he was in Grammy's lap!

~5 months old

My Sleeping Men

2010-11-08T12:18:00.000-05:00

Doug always tries to convince me that Talon wants to go back to sleep for a few more winks so that he can go back to sleep. I always tell him that is won't work but Talon must have been extra tired because Doug got his way... little man went back to sleep after morning treatments and my men slept for another 2 hours!

~5 months old

Bottle Up

2010-11-08T12:03:00.000-05:00

This was the first time that Talon held his own bottle!

~5 months old

First "Normal" Doctors Visit

2010-11-08T11:52:00.000-05:00

So it took us a long time to get around to taking Talon in for a normal check up. We have to the doctor so much since he was born that it was just not very high up on our priority list. We should forego the regular doctor in the future!

When we got to the office we were super impressed with the check in process. Instead of handing my a clipborad with 5 thousand papers crammed into the little clip that is about to crack from all the strain, she handed me a computer screen and a little plastic stick to tap my info straight into the system. Our positive impression of the place went steadily downhill from that point on.

We were taken back to a little room and a man (somewhere in his educational walk through the muck of the medically minded) came in and started Talon's check up. He was very polite about the issue of not vaccinating. He made it obvious that he did not agree but was very respectful of our choice. He then did a very haphazard run through of checking out Talon. He explained about reflexes, reactions, etc. as he went through but, much to my surprise, Talon was not really responding to the man and yet he kept going as if he had. Now I know that Talon does all of those things (gripping etc) on a normal basis... but he didn't! To his credit, he was very sweet with Talon.

When he left the room we thought we were about to leave when the PA came in to redo the exam so as to check the other dudes results. AHHHHHHHHH! That said, we will move on.

She was not a very friendly woman and as she walked in the first thing that she said was "I am not going to even say anything about you not vaccinating your child" in a really hoity toity tone. I smiled sweetly and said "okay!" Definitely not the reaction she was expecting. She had to get the last word in "except that I think that you SHOULD vaccinate him." I did not respond. "You know, there is no correlation between autism and vaccines." The fact that she brought it up proves that at least a chunk of society believes that there is!

She then proceeded to examine Talon with a not so gentle hand. She actually asked me to hold Talon still with an annoyed tone. Has she ever even seen a baby?

When she examined his uncircumcised penis, she told me that he was not developing properly and that we needed to see a urologist to have a minor surgery performed. She even hinted that they might nave to circumcise him so that he would develop. The woman has no experience at all because babies that are not circumcised are supposed to look just like him and not develop in the way that she was talking about until at least four!

Then she examined his legs and said that his legs turn out. I agreed with her... they do! She then told me that he was going to have to have braces on his legs at night to correct his deformity. She gave me a referral to a orthopedic surgeon so that I could "get the problem under control."

It is perfectly normal for feet to turn in or out in babies. The legs will usually straighten out when the baby starts to walk because the bones harden. If there is any issue with the legs not completely straightening they don't do anything, unless very severe, until the child is about ten.

She made a few more comments about vaccines and we were on our way.

Summing up our visit: my child has a deformed penis that needs surgery, my child has deformed legs that need braces and possible surgery, he desperately needs to be vaccinated.

Now the vaccination thing I don't really care about because we know that most people will not agree with us. As for the other two, I would have left that office devastated if I was not more educated in those areas than the PA! All in all, we will not be going back!

~5 months old

Crawling Towards Mimi

2010-11-07T22:23:00.000-05:00

Talon actually crawled for the first time while he was skyping with Mimi.

~5 months old

"Hanging" Out with Mom and Dad

2010-11-06T21:54:00.000-04:00

~5 months old

Still Moving

2010-11-06T00:55:00.000-04:00

~5 1/2 months old

Land Swimming

2010-11-06T00:41:00.001-04:00

Talon continues his journey to the mobile stage.

~5 1/2 months old

Daddy's Nose

2010-11-06T00:28:00.000-04:00

Step 1: Grab Daddy's face/sideburns

Step 2: Growl

Step 3: Chomp on Daddy's nose

Step 4: Repeat steps 1-3

He also likes Mommy's chin!

~5 months old

Good Times

2010-11-06T00:20:00.000-04:00

Mr. Man loves to sit in his highchair and chew on toys while mommy cooks. His favorite highchair toys include an egg beater and a baster. He also has a plethora of wooden toys that Aunt Noelle has so kindly let him borrow. This green/red thingy is one of them!

~5 months old

Sweeping

2010-11-06T00:11:00.001-04:00

Talon now regularly flips over in bed and wakes himself up. He then proceeds to say ahhhh ohhhh ohahhhh in a high pitched voice. I want to wake him up to play!

~5 months old

Getting Ready

2010-11-05T11:52:00.001-04:00

This was my very first time wearing shoes! Mom and Dad took me to church to show off my new look!

~4 months old (2 days shy of 5 months)

Me and My Best Bud

2010-10-18T18:52:00.000-04:00

Look up there Silas!!!

Isn't it great!

I think I need a nap...do you mind Talon?

Not at all best bud!

~ 15 weeks old

Cute Little Man

2010-10-08T12:00:00.002-04:00

~4 months

Toys for Tots

2010-10-08T11:36:00.001-04:00

In the past I have talked about the famed musical crown that only sings for Talon... well here is proof! Every time the kid touches the thing it starts to sing! I wish I had a better video because usually he just holds it and it plays over and over!

~21 weeks (almost 5 months)

Feet?!

2010-10-08T02:13:00.000-04:00

How have we never met?

You mean to tell me you have been there this whole time?

I think I'm in love!

~4 months old (almost 5)

Bouncy Seat

2010-10-08T02:09:00.000-04:00

Thanks Aunt Noelle for the bouncy seat... I love it!!!!

~4 months old (almost 5)

Movin' Man

2010-10-08T01:56:00.003-04:00

Little man is now officially on the move! You can follow his progression!

That looks cool too!

Oops... can you roll me back over?

~ 4 months old (almost 5)

The Man Behind the Curtain

2010-10-08T01:25:00.000-04:00

Talon loves holding material up to his face and sucking on his index finger. We are careful to make sure that he has different pieces of material all the time. The last thing that we need is to have a blankie that is NEVER allowed to be left, lost etc. He takes the blanket, covers his face, and yanks it down while smiling or giggling!

AHHHHHH!!!

~ 4 months old (almost five)

ZZZZZZZZ

2010-09-13T00:45:00.000-04:00

I was "helping" Talon fall asleep a few days ago but I was exhausted and accidentally fell asleep. Doug snuck in and took a few pictures of me and little man!

~18 weeks old (4 months)

Painting With Grammy

2010-09-13T00:07:00.000-04:00

Mom and I were painting her bathroom when Talon woke up prematurely. I told Mom to take a break and hold little man while I finished up. Mom, being the stubborn woman that she is, insisted on painting and let Talon help her!

Mom said that even when she stopped painting Talon tried to pull the brush back and forth!

~17 weeks old

Cute Videos

2010-09-12T23:47:00.002-04:00

This is just Talon being cute...

Mexican Cha Cha

2010-09-09T23:05:00.000-04:00

Little man loves to play on his play mat! I guess the $15 not so adequate mat thingy was worth it! This is the same one that has Spanish words on it instead of English which is, I am assuming, why I got it so cheap!

~17 weeks old

First Day on the Lake

2010-09-08T02:14:00.000-04:00

We borrowed a boat from Doug's work and spent the day on the lake last weekend! It was such a blast. It was Talon's first day on a boat and we kept him out for seven hours. He loved it!!! He slept a lot but would not sleep unless the boat was moving. Grammy was a great help for nap time!

Nice nap with Grammy (1st)

Looking at Daddy...

Looking at Mommy!!!

Dads teaching me to drive the boat!

Second nap with Grammy!

Third nap on the floor of the boat!

Gnarly Dude

~16 weeks old

Sweet Boy

2010-09-08T01:50:00.000-04:00

~16 weeks old

My First Time on a Boat

2010-09-08T01:44:00.002-04:00

Doug called one day while he was at work and told us that he had a boat to test and wanted to know if we wanted to go on a boat ride! Doug, Mom and I were riding around for about three minutes before Doug dumped us back on shore. The boat wasn't running well and he did not want us marooned in the middle of the lake. It was fun while it lasted!!!

~16 weeks old

New Tricks

2010-09-08T01:41:00.003-04:00

Talon now officially likes his swing! He also does a fun trick with Dad!

~15 weeks old

Watch Out For That Tree

2010-09-04T16:08:00.000-04:00

Doug decided that Talon needed his first lesson in backing up a trailer!

Uh oh Dad... I think I hit something!

~15 weeks old (3 months)

A Show and a Nack

2010-08-04T16:24:00.002-04:00

Talon seems to like tv! He watched a little bit while we were in Georgia. I was babysitting while Noel went to town for a bit of distraction (overdue at this point). When the show was over I asked Maggie to go upstairs and do something and during the two minutes that I left Findlay alone with Talon he tried to kill him!

I walked in and Findlay was sitting beside Talon.

"Are you playing with Baby Brother Cousin Talon Pullen?" I asked (that is what Fin calls Talon).

"Yeah"

"What is that in Talons mouth? Raisins?"

I then proceeded to dig three raisins out of his mouth!!!!!!

"Baby Brother Cousin Talon Pullen needed a nack!"

What can you say.... he was being sweet!

~13 weeks old

Big Smile

2010-07-25T22:56:00.000-04:00

Dad thought that Talon's new hat was really cute so he took a picture. He counted down from three and right as he said one Talon produced a radiant smile!

~11 weeks old

Fresh From My Bath

2010-07-25T22:54:00.000-04:00

~11 weeks old

Tummy Time... Buck Nakid

2010-07-25T22:42:00.002-04:00

I put him down on the floor while I prepped his bath. He had just pooped all over the place and I wiped the excess feces off of him in. When I went to grab him he was just so cute I had to take some pictures!

~11 weeks old

Update on the Swing

2010-07-25T22:39:00.001-04:00

Still not a fan!!!

Thanks for getting me Mom!

~10 weeks old

Just Like Daddy

2010-07-25T16:49:00.000-04:00

~10 weeks old

The Drive from San Antonio

2010-07-22T20:18:00.000-04:00

These were our few moments of peace between the hours of hysteria. Let's just say he did not travel quite as well as he did when we drove to Georgia.

He would clutch my hand if I tried to move it!

Guessing Faces

2010-07-22T19:58:00.000-04:00

Messing around in the hotel in San Antonio!

This was me guessing what he was doing

Again...guessing...

~9 weeks old

First Time in Water

2010-07-22T16:42:00.000-04:00

While we were in San Antonio we stayed at a hotel with a pool. Up until then Talon had not been in the water because I wanted Doug to be there for his first time. The water was freezing cold but Talon loved it. He did not cry at all even when his lip started quivering. Love our little man!!!

~9 weeks old

Thumbs and Such

2010-07-22T15:05:00.000-04:00

"Mom, I found it and it is amazzzz......"

"I am so pleased with myself"

"Can't quite find it again but this will do!"

~8 weeks old

First Bus Ride

2010-07-22T15:01:00.000-04:00

On the 4th of July we went to a festival to see Aunt Sarah hula dance. We had to park and then ride a bus to the event. This was Talon's first bus ride. He stared out of the huge windows the whole time in awe. Look on the family blog to see more pictures of the day!

Talon was very tired after a long day

He almost looks like he is whimpering

~8 weeks old

More pics

2010-07-22T14:43:00.000-04:00

~8 weeks old

Little Man

2010-07-21T21:03:00.000-04:00

~8 weeks old

I Love My Daddy

2010-07-21T20:57:00.000-04:00

~8 weeks old

The Not So Kingly Play Mat

2010-07-21T20:50:00.002-04:00

I bought a little mat thing for Talon! At the store all of the mats were 50+ and since I was not a fan of that price range I continued looking until I found a not so impressive but adequate version of the real thing. You can see the little crown hanging in the first picture. When squeezed it plays a little tune.. errr.... played a little tune. Once! The words are all in Spanish (I think that is why I got it for $15) and it is very basic but it works for us! He was not a huge fan but we are hoping he learns to appreciate it in time!

~8 weeks

First Plane Ride

2010-07-02T16:16:00.000-04:00

We flew home from Georgia because Grandma had driven out to Texas and we rode there with her. Talon did so well at the airport and on the plane. What can I say I have the perfect baby!!!

He rode around on a SmartCart

I changed his diaper at the terminal...we pulled the luggage around to hide him

I was covering up spit up with my arm because it was unfortunately in an awkward place

Our carry-ons

Dad had a cold so we had to wait at the airport for an extra hour and a half while he drove around to find a mask. It was a long day but we had fun!

~6 weeks old

Me and Aunt Noelle

2010-07-02T15:48:00.000-04:00

~6 weeks old

The Way He Sleeps

2010-07-02T15:43:00.000-04:00

Talon loves to fold his arms and sleep in the crack. I don't know how he figured this out but I have never seen a baby sleep like this. So cute!!!!

~5 weeks old

First Big Car Trip

2010-07-02T15:39:00.000-04:00

We went to see all of the Georgia people a few weeks ago. That is 15 hours with a five week old. I was so glad to be around all of the people who love and care about us! Doug did not get to go but Tal and I went drove back with Mom and Grandma. Talon was amazing the whole trip. He barely cried at all and only when he was hungry.

Whenever he was done with the passy he spit it out!

~5 weeks old

Talon's Diagnosis

2010-06-09T16:32:00.004-04:00

Talon was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis on Monday June 7th, 2010 at 11:17am. This is the last time that I will directly address his diagnosis on this blog because CF has nothing to do with who he is but is only something that he will have to deal with everyday. This blog is to follow his life... not his condition.

Talon does not have CF... instead we are claiming everyday that he is in the process of being healed from it. We accept the reality of today but look forward to his future without Cystic Fibrosis.

A very special girl in Talon's life nicknamed him The Eagle when he was born (Talon...eagle). An eagle knows when a storm is coming long before it arrives. He will fly to a high spot and wait. When the storm arrives, the eagle uses the wind to lift him high above the storm. While the storm rages the eagle soars above it. The eagle does not escape the storm but simply uses the storm to lift itself higher.

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

You can follow Talon's CF story at http://overcomingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com

~week 5

"Pretty" Pictures

2010-06-09T15:52:00.000-04:00

~week 5

Modern Art Museum

2010-06-04T21:55:00.002-04:00

Grandma, Mom, Ethan, Talon and I went to the Museum of Modern Art on Wednesday. We had so much fun although I am not sure that I agree with some of those people on the definition of art! One display had a huge pile of green hard candies wrapped in clear plastic (just like at the store) that were thrown on the floor in a long squiggly line that was supposed to represent a river. Can you believe people get famous over this stuff? I told the man working there that I was an artist and I had created a baby as I pointed at Tal. He laughed and told me I was a very good artist and I had the best piece of artwork in the building.

I realized as we were leaving that I had only really taken pictures of Tal… it did not really occur to me to take pictures of the displays.

We were going to avoid the pacifier thing but Talon needs to suck all the time and since he can't seem to get his thumb to stay in his mouth yet we will use it for now. Boy he loves that thing but he does not need it to fall asleep... only to suck on when he needs to!

Talons first pacifier!

~5 weeks

Talon Loves His Grammy

2010-06-04T20:51:00.000-04:00

I love being the mommy. I love it that Talon will be crying and really upset and then when he is passed back to me he stops. There is not anything like it and I love it!!!!

That said, I also love that he loves his grammy. Mom can get him to calm down almost as well as me. The key ingredient....... the glider. She takes him and rocks him to sleep easy as can be. He snuggles up, tucks his legs in, breathes a sigh of relief and falls asleep. Thanks Mom!

~4 weeks

Memorial Day

2010-06-02T22:07:00.000-04:00

We went to the lake for Memorial day. It was Talons first time at the lake and he wore his first pair of board shorts... they were huge! Mom brought the kayaks and we took the Rectors boat out. We cooked out and just had fun with friends.

Confused? Constipated?

Kid looks like Urkel

It was Talons first time in a pack n play

~week 4

Luke or Han?

2010-06-02T00:59:00.001-04:00

Me and my little man have been having some all night bonding time per his request... errr demand. And what is on tv at 4:00am you might ask..... Star Wars. I have now watched all but the last movie out of six in the last 3 days.

~week 4

Talon's Bed

2010-06-02T00:52:00.000-04:00

What can I say.... the kid likes to sleep with his hands above his head! This is Talon's Moses basket and it is where he sleeps until he is big enough for his crib. He is right next to me so I just roll over and grab him many many many times throughout the night!

~week 4

Praise the Lord and Halellujah

2010-05-27T16:19:00.000-04:00

Talon was sleeping the other day when all of a sudden his hand shot up in the air and stayed there. Soon after that his other hand followed suit. We decided that he was praising the Lord!!!

~week 3

New Swing

2010-05-21T14:59:00.000-04:00

Mom wanted to get Talon a swing for his "birth" day present. My dad insisted on buying him the best swing on the market! It has two vibration settings, about thirty different sounds and songs, six speed settings, three position settings and an Ipod hookup with a surprisingly good speaker system. Thanks Grammy and Papa for the swing!!!!

~week 3

Bath with Daddy

2010-05-21T14:50:00.000-04:00

Talon loves being in the water for bath time. He does great until we start to bathe him. We have it down though... Doug bathes him while I use a cup to pour water over him and then I wash his hair while Doug is still holding him under the water except for his head. He still screams but it is not as bad!

~week 3

The Many Faces of Talon

2010-05-21T14:41:00.000-04:00

~week 3

Talon with Mom and Dad

2010-05-21T14:31:00.000-04:00

~week 3

Another Picture...Can't get Enough!

2010-05-16T15:54:00.004-04:00

~week 2

Who Are You Looking At?

2010-05-16T15:54:00.000-04:00

~week 1

Talon with His Cousins

2010-05-16T15:51:00.000-04:00

~week 1

Beautiful Boy

2010-05-16T15:45:00.001-04:00

~week 1