A Few Things

First... A certain cutie had his six-month checkup yesterday. He is healthy as a horse... 19-1/2 pounds and almost 28 inches long - putting him in the 90th percentile for each. He's a big 'un! Poor thing had to get eight vaccines and five needle pokes, but he handled it pretty well. Jackson also got a shot and a vaccine mist (up the nose), and both of them woke up hot and very cranky from their afternoon naps. About an hour after that, though, they were both happy and hyper again. I was very thankful, because I had been kicking myself for scheduling those shots while Phil was still gone. I had thought that I might be in for a rough night of awakenings, but everyone slept surprisingly well. Jackson woke up crying around 9:00 P.M., but I think that was because he couldn't suck his thumb because his nose was stuffy. I didn't hear him for the rest of the night, though.

Here's Emmett fresh out of the bath tonight. I figured out that if I give him something to play with in the tub, he doesn't splash nearly as much. It makes bathtime much more enjoyable for me!


Second... My friend, Alexis, keeps some chickens, ducks, a turkey, and two goats on a small lot that she has here in town. She started doing this last spring, I think, and since then has been able to enjoy real farm-fresh eggs and even some fresh chicken meat. Alexis is a very healthy eater and has really been inspiring me to make healthier choices when feeding our family. A few weeks ago she wrote about the nutritional superiority of farm fresh eggs in relation to store-bought eggs on her blog (which I have a link to on my sidebar), if you're interested.

Anyway, I've been wanting to switch to farm-fresh eggs for a while but didn't really know where to buy them. Luckily, Alexis just offered to let us feed her animals one day a week and collect all of the eggs on that day! The only other thing we have to do is buy a bag of chicken feed every month or so. We'll get about 18 fresh chicken eggs on that one day, plus a few duck eggs and maybe a turkey egg here and there. I am so excited about this! Today I went to watch my friend Rocky (who is also helping out one day a week) feed the animals and the boys went with me. Jackson loved it and wasn't even too scared of all of the birds and the two big goats wandering all around us.

I just have to say that seriously, I wish you could see these birds. I usually hate birds of any kind (I think I've even blogged about it before), but all of Alexis's birds are totally beautiful! They look just like pictures from a magazine (a bird magazine, I guess). Their feathers are all shiny and smooth, they are filled out and plump - not skinny and scrawny, they are gorgeous colors... you should see how striking the male mallard duck's head is!

And on top of that... they are extremely friendly! The turkey (who is the cutest thing... she has one gimpy foot and has to kind of limp around all over the place) actually enjoys being petted! I really hope she's not going to be gone after November 26 (is she, Alexis??). And the chickens and rooster will walk right over to you, but not chase you or anything. It was great fun. Did I mention I'm excited about this?

It was freezing today, so I bundled both boys up really well before we went out. I didn't have enough hands available to take a camera with me, but I took some pics at home before we left. I will be sure to get some pictures of those birds for you. I know you're dying to see them. :)


Poor Emmett was plumb tuckered out after all of the excitement at the "farm"...


Third... Here's a little Halloween sneak peek for you (Emmett's costume just came in the mail today).


And Fourth... Thanks so much, Mom and Dad, for the package of goodies for Jackson. He loved it! I posted two videos of him with a few of the gifts. You'll notice that he's not very fond of talking on command... and please excuse my annoying voice! :)