Ford would have been perfect for this

This commercial just made me smile because I kept picturing Ford being one of the babies. I could sooo see him doing this with a big gummy grin on his face the whole time! And, of course, doing some fancy trick per Dad's request ;)

Happy Friday.
Soon to come... pictures of our fabulous beach trip with the Russell fam!

9 months

Technically, in two days he will be 9 months old! He is just growing up sooo fast! Now that the cast is off he is on the MOVE. It's more of a scooting action, but regardless he is getting places. 

I was a little early to Lillians birthday party at Overton park so I tried to get some pics of Ford while we were waiting...

 Yes, those are bruises on his head. I think that head is going to get in the way a lot more. Especially now that he is moving!

 Always full of many facial expressions. He is now starting to "wink". Which is where he blinks with his eyes and makes this funny little face at the same time...he is kind of "flirting", if you will.

I am just loving this age. You really start to see their personality and Mac is having a lot more fun with him too. 

Now that he is eating real food and on formula he is sleeping great and not having to be swaddled as much- its more of a tuck in bed routine instead of a strict swaddle. But when you tuck his arms down by is side and wrap him up, he turns his head and passes out. It's just his cue to go to sleep- works every time. But in the morning he is definitely out of it with his feet propped up on the bumper, just relaxed as can be. 

He eats anything and everything so far... nothing has turned him off. Typical, right? That's a good thing with a dad as a chef! 

This weekend we have my 10 year high school reunion. I know it will be fun to see people but it's just different these days when you have Facebook, Twitter, blogs.... you pretty much know what is going on in everyones life. But what is really fun for me, is that on Saturday from 11-1 Shindigs will be serving food for my class at MBE elementary football field. It is the more "family friendly" function of the reunion and everyone will get to taste some Shindigs!

Baby and The Ball

We've had many o' arrogant people sign Ford's cast...what is is about making yourself feel better as you sign the cast of a crippled person, much less a crippled baby who doesn't know any better. Seems so off, doesn't it? Can you believe these are the words of that encouragement that people family wanted to say to dear Ford...

Okay, minus Olivia... she is so sweet...

It's even more colorful now... even the ladies at the Y have signed it and many other close friends. 

I had a fun ladies night out the other night! Supporting the good ole Ball of Roses.
It would have been fun to have Mac there, but it turned out to be a great girls night. We ate at Daniel George and then attended the Ball.

 And, the presentation begins...

Borrowed a dress from a friend and obviously really enjoyed wearing it. It's always fun to dress up!

All the ladies up front dancing all night!

Ford in the pack-n-play...

He just loves his bath time. I am so glad I grappled with the doctor to get what they called a soft/wet cast... I can't imagine not letting him get it wet in bath time or having to take off and put on a removable cast every day. So, this was for sure a blessing...

He's got two toofs coming in... can you see them?! 

All better now....

Life has just be so busy lately.... lots going on, as usual, in the Russell household. 

Shindigs is really making a hit. Email, after email, after email... Mac is just trying to keep up with all the catering opportunities. He did just hire an office manager, which we are really excited about! She is so sweet and cute and is also a nutritionist and will be a HUGE HELP for Mac. 

 So, yes, he has started to drive. #prodigychild ! No, no, but he did love this little seat in publix. All the old people stop and goo and gah over him for about 10 minutes saying "You have red hair!".... I want to look at them and say "You have grey haaaaiir! ;) It really is so funny how many people stop and mention that Ford has RED hair.

This was the funniest thing.... pig face and trapped in the pack-n-play. But, he loves it and does not mind playing in it.

He is really digging some real food. He's been eating avocado, bananas, mandarine oranges, hand picked strawberries and peaches, peas, Daddy's truffle fries, even a little ouster sandwich... he definitely wants real food though. He really wanted some of my burger the other day!

Cousin Rhodes always poses like this with Ford. Hand-on-basketball pose.

This was the day we went ask supported Dad at Food Truck Round Up... it was so much fun. Ford has a really loooong day but he was a trooper. And, I will say, I was too! My muscles are getting strong, I tell you what.

This was on Mothers Day... we went strolling around the summit to get out and about as a fam. And then we picked up our new favorite food from the Tin Drum Asian Cafe... it is soooo good! Order the Tin Drum curry chicken with egg fried rice.

He does love to swing...

waking up in the morning...

I think its time we move to the tub... He was a determined little sucker.

Celebrating a friend, Tucker's, birthday at Homewood Park.

This is what happens if you miss the nap time opportunity... he gets wiiiired and won't go down and mommy doesn't get her time to catch up on things...
He is starting to say "bah bah bah" and he will repeat it after you if you say it...so cute!

 Mac was able to come to Julia and Carlos' going away party that I helped host. I was so grateful he could come to help hold and feed the boy! #handsomeboys

Still loving the johnny jump up... getting some good air these days.

We had a brief time at the lake over Memorial Day weekend but here were the happy moments..

He had had a fever all week but I thought it has subsided... well found out it hadn't... poor guy. We were in this tiny house with extended family and Ford cried until midnight-- something was up...he would NOT go down. Mac and Robert drove him around in the car for awhile at 11 and then finally he got in bed with me and fell asleep and I quickly put him in the pack-n-play so I could sleep!
The next day Mac noticed he wasn't moving his right arm at all. We thought it was nursemaids elbow and drove by water to a pediatrician to get it popped back into place. Ford did start moving his arm a little more after that but the problem still wasn't solved. We got back home he threw up  and he had a fever of 102.7... so we ended up driving back home to get things better.
To make a long story short, I ended up going to Childrens to get his arm x-rayed and it was a hair fracture in his forearm.
Fever and viral infection in throat are now gone and he has a cast to fix his little arm! whoo!

 I told these guys, "You know you are fixing the arm of a future Heisman Trophy Winner." They laughed and agreed :)

getting is x-ray... See how he just wouldn't move his right arm:(

We don't know how it happened... I'm assuming he was just trying to stand and fell back on it...? We can't recall any incident but Im just glad we finally found out the problem!
All better and back to sweet, precious Ford!

This is when he first found the cast...

People are signing it...

Ford said he loves white chocolate butterfingers shivers from TCBY...so just let me know before you stop by with that and the balloons.

It's brief...but it's life these days!

So talented! I see a future basketball player here...

 Loving bath time. 

I now feed him food at 5:30 then bathe him and top him off with a big bottle at 6:45...down at 7!

 Mom is going out tonight! 

Loving every roll...

 Kickin' Coaster still comes in handy! He now can touch the lights with his hands instead of his feet!

A day with Lovey...

Shindigs is blowing up!

First boo boo... via cousin Rhodes...

Me at Ford's age...

Looks like Dad when he worked at Hot and Hot Fish Club...long billed hat!