Future so Bright...

...he's gotta wear...green stars???

Sickly

Remember me mentioning that the boys had been sick with some virus? Well, it wasn't a virus.

By the time Sunday rolled around, Walker had been running a fever for 4 days. He really didn't seem THAT sick to us, but as soon as we got to the pediatrician's office, the doctor immediately ordered a breathing treatment and some bloodwork. :( Bad nurse Mommy didn't even put a stethoscope to his chest or I would have realized that my poor baby's lungs were pretty junky. The doctor said he had bronchitis and pneumonia; we left with prescriptions for antibiotics, steroids, and albuterol.

Walker is no longer running a fever and he is looking better, but he's still sounding pretty junky and requiring breathing treatments about 4 times a day. And his been awfully clingy, but I'm completely ok with that.

When we went to the pediatrician on Sunday, I had him check Jake out since we were already there. Jake has had a nasty cough and congestion since last Tuesday, but the doctor thought he was ok. Well, today he started complaining of ear pain; actually, Jake woke up from his nap screaming and crying non-stop about his ear. I called the nurse at the pediatrician's office, and she told me to bring him in immediately. Long story short, the pediatrician said his ear drum was about to rupture...we came in just in time. It's just absolute craziness since he had just been seen on Sunday!

Anyways, I know this is pretty boring to most, but some valuable lessons can be learned from this. 1) if you own a stethoscope and know how to use it...use it! 2) ear infections can come on really quickly...our doctor said ears can change from one day to the next. Super scary! Oh, and 3) I have the most amazing husband/baby-daddy EVER! Tyson has been so supportive and awesome through this all. The boys and I are sooo lucky!

End of the Year Pool Party

I am so ready for this little boy to walk! His poor legs are just all banged up!Mariah and her lil' sis, Maddie

Allie

Ryan

Ryan wanted in on the Summers' boys' picture

Macy

Macy's lil' sis, Molly

Jake's buddy, Kyle

Ashley and I hosted a pool party for Jake and Ryan's Mother's Day Out class. Only about half the class could make it, but we still had a good time. It's just so fun to be able to get together outside of school and church and hang out. And it's also so neat to see the kids together; some of them have been together since they were babies in the nursery. Next year, they are splitting up the kids (including Jake and Ryan) and putting them in different classes, so it will be interesting to see how that works out. We're definitely going to miss our Gator friends and our Gator teachers!

Walker, Texas Ranger

Look who's walking driving!

Sweet Kaitlyn

As I look at this picture, I realize Walker was throwing the ball at Kaitlyn...

...and it appears to have hit her in the eye. ;) Sorry, Kaitlyn!

It's been an uneventful weekend around the Summers' house. You see, the Summers and Madden crew have contracted some virus (fever and crud) from school, so we have all been quarantined at home for the weekend. Luckily, we have each other to play with since we all have the same thing.

Anyways, I thought the grandparents would like to see some pictures, so here you go. These pictures are of Walker riding the 4-wheeler that Jake got for his 1st Christmas. Walker actually figured out how to drive the 4-wheeler for the first time a couple of weeks ago; I've just been a bad photographer/scrapbooker lately. And I know these aren't the best pictures of my baby boy since he's feeling a little rough, but hey...that's life, right?

I hope everyone has a great (and healthy) weekend!

"When's My Daddy Coming Home?"

This picture was taken right after Kate's wedding at Brodie Field (where Tyson played football and I cheered for him ;) in Tifton. We rode by the stadium on our way back to the hotel after the wedding and we saw the lights on at the stadium and decided to make a quick stop. Tifton has a new semi-pro football team called the "Firebirds," and they had a game that night. Jake got to meet some of Tyson's friends, and of course, he had to get a picture with the Firebird. :)


Jake has been all about his Daddy lately and wants to do all things football with his Daddy. Anytime Jake has the opportunity to go to a meeting or practice with Tyson, Jake is there. Unfortunately, Tyson has been super busy with recruiting lately, and he hasn't been around much in the last 3 weeks (which has made for a really sad little boy).


Don't get me wrong, Tyson has tried really hard to be around as much as he can, but it's just the nature of the business. Luckily, though, Spring recruiting comes to an end this weekend and is over til the fall. Woo hoo! And it couldn't come soon enough...poor Jake asked me at dinner tonight, "when's my daddy coming home?" Break my heart! I despise recruiting...but like I said, it's over for the next few months!!! Next up, camps and then 1 month of vacation! Woo hoo!


We miss you, Tyson! Hurry up and come home already! ;)

Super Jake

Baby # 3!!!!

...for the Maddens!! ;) Woo hoo! Baby #3 will make his/her appearance late October/early November. I'm so excited for them! Congrats, Ashley and Mike!

He Might Not Walk...

...but he sure can climb!

(Alternately titled- "This is what happens when you turn your head for a second!")

Walker is my climber. The first time he saw our stairs (which are hidden behind a door), he took off and climbed all the way to the top; he was so quick that I couldn't even catch him until he was already at the top. He's also figured out how to climb onto the sofa, and he's even climbed on top of the table! I definitely have my hands full with this one!

Summer, summer, summertime!

The four of us hit the pool yesterday for the first time all season (well...other than the quick dip at Walker's birthday party). The boys had so much fun; I'm pretty sure we'll be hitting the pool pretty regurlarly this year just like last year. It's just so much easier and more enjoyable now that Walker can get into the pool and enjoy it versus being stuck in a stroller in the shade as a baby.

Speaking of Walker and the pool, he LOVED it! He kept wanting to dip his face in the pool, which he thought was hilarious. I really thought he'd be all over the place, but he just had so much fun standing up...sitting down...standing up...sitting down. He quickly realized he can't exactly crawl in the pool without sucking in a bunch of air, so he is forced to walk...and he was actually better at walking and standing in the pool than anywhere else.

Jake LOVED the pool, also. I thought he'd be a little more hesitant at first, but he jumped on in like it was nothing and started "swimming" (aka dog paddling) with his puddle jumpers on. Tyson and I were both so proud of him.

It is definitely going to be a fun summer around here!!

**There is another post from today below.

12 Month Check-up

As you know, Walker turned 1 on April 10. We just went for his check-up last week, though, since April was such a busy month for us. The appointment went well. Walker was 24 lbs 7 or 8 oz (75%) and was 32.5 cm tall (which is off the charts)!! I can't remember his head circumference (and I lost the sheet) but it was like in the 50%. All of Walker's measurements were bigger than Jake's at this age, so it will be interesting to see what happens.


So what's going on with Walker now?




He gave up his bottle and formula right before his 1st birthday and has transitioned so easily to the sippy cup and milk. No more warming up bottles! Woohoo!

He is a pig! The boy can put down some food! He's definitely a meat and potatoes kind of guy versus Jake who is a fruit and salad kind of guy. :) We're still experimenting on different fruits and veggies, but for now, he likes green beans, broccoli, grapes, bananas, and applesauce. Like I said, though, he doesn't turn away any kind of meat.

He sleeps 12 hours at night (give or take an hour) and still naps twice a day for a total of about 2 hours. He is such a light sleeper; his room is surrounded by box fans to try to reduce some of his brother's noise.

He sleeps with a paci and his "puppy." If you walk in on him sleeping, he always has "puppy" in a head-lock right next to him.

His personality is really developing! He's still super cute, but this little boy is proving to be very stubborn and impatient! I don't know where he gets it from. ;) Ha! Actually, Tyson and I both very stubborn and impatient, so Walker got a double dose of it.

He says Mama, Dada, hey, this?, choo choo, and something that sounds like "Jake."

He still only has 6 teeth, but is working on more.

His hair is pretty blond still and his eyes are a bluish-green.

He LOVES Kaitlyn Madden...his eyes light up and he starts smiling whenever she's around.

He has started standing independently for longer periods of time, but he's still not walking. We totally gave this child the wrong name! The pediatrician bet me and Tyson lunch if he's not walking by 15 months, but I just don't see it. He is so stubborn that when you try to get him to walk, he will pitch a fit and throw himself to the ground. I think he has the ability, he just doesn't want to. And why would you when you can crawl super fast? Plain stubbornness!

He and his brother still get along pretty well, but there have been the occasional fight with me ending up saying something like this, "Jake don't take that from him...Walker keep your hands to yourself...Jake don't hit your brother...Walker don't pull his hair." Jake thinks Walker is the funniest person he's ever met; he always says, "Walker is silly funny!"

He has started blowing kisses lately and he loves doing it to women out in public. Such a flirt.

His favorite show is "Dora." Usually Walker won't even pay attention to the TV when Jake has it on, but as soon as Walker hears the Dora music coming on, he is all about it!

His teachers all tell me (and I saw it first-hand by working in his classroom in April) that he is their best baby (along with Kaitlyn when she's there, of course). He is just so sweet and easy-going. Walker is also notorious for going to see about his classmates when they are crying; he helps put their pacifiers in their mouths or offers them a toy or whatever he can do to calm them.

Why walk when you have an older brother who can carry you everywhere?

We just went today for Walker's ophthalmology follow-up and we get to avoid glasses for another year! The doctor seems to think Walker will need glasses by age 5, so we are going to go back yearly just to keep an "eye" on it. Hahaha!

We are so blessed to have 2 healthy little boys who love us and each other so much...even though they are polar opposites. ;)