Having an 8 month old…

…is a lot like having a puppy.

For example, teething. New teeth mean chewing on everything, including but not limited to: fingers, toys, furniture, and you guessed it! shoes! I also have a hard time keeping him away from the toilet and garbage, and yesterday night I took off his diaper for bath and before I got him into the tub he pooped on my bedroom floor. Kids are a little harder but if you ever find yourself wondering: is parenthood for me? Try a puppy!

I kid, I kid.

Having an 8 month old truly is an adventure. I am the proud mother of a little boy that crawls, stands, claps, high-fives, gives head-noogies, snorts like a piggy, fake laughs, says da-da, no longer takes a pacifier for anything, has 4 teeth with 4 more on the way, and is happy 96% of the time. He’s pretty much the best

The holidays were amazing and being in TX with everyone was great. We’re in the home stretch of this deployment and things are looking pretty wonderful for 2011. I hate to be so short but I’ve only got so much time and I’d like to paint my fingernails tonight!

all my love, xoxo

 

“Talk to me, Goose!”

Or should I say talk to me, Papoose!

Well, sort of…we started baby sign language! And it’s only day 2 but I love it! Levi obviously hasn’t started signing back yet but he’s very interested in what I’m doing with my hands. I was a little nervous not knowing  how big of an undertaking it was going to be, but it’s the easiest thing! I just sign while I’m talking! And the things it can do for Levi, how could I not give it a try?!  The author of the book I bought actually lives right here in San Diego and gives classes, so after our trip to TX I plan on enrolling Levi and I!

Speaking of my stinky boy, he has teeth! His 2 bottom teeth to be exact! I’m think he’s got a couple more on their way seeing how his mouth has been replaced with a faucet. He jibber-jabbers away all day and practices his beatboxing daily. Momma’s little rollie-pollie and trying hard to become a creepy crawler! He just can’t figure out how to get on his hands and knees at once He’s stable enough to sit up but I’m always close by because he still has a little cause of the weeble-wobbles. Every day he grows and every day I think to myself how blessed I am to be his mother. He teaches me so much about life, and myself, things I would have never known otherwise. It seems as if he’s always been here because I can’t imagine life without him, but to think he’s almost 6 months seems crazy.

Being by myself with him has shown me just how patient I can be and how strong I can be. It is a little overwhelming at times because I wonder if I’m doing things the right way, or if I’m doing a good job, how much is he missing out on not having Matthew here? I think those things and then think to myself, he’s loved, he’s happy, he’s healthy…we’re doin’ alright!

I look at this time apart from Matthew as an opportunity to grow. It’s hard but:

“Absence does for love what the wind does for a flame: it extinguishes the weak, and feeds the strong.” -Anonymous

xoxo

‘Cause all I really want’s to be with you, and feel like I matter too…

It’s a funny thing, communication. It’s the key to relationships, all relationships. I try to remind myself of that on a daily basis, because lately I’ve been getting the tiniest bit jealous.

hey jealousy - Gin Blossoms

Only being able to talk to my husband once in a while makes me extremely territorial of the time he gets to talk to people.

It’s silly, but when I hear he called and talked to this family member, or he Skyped with this family member I get a feeling of “how dare you?”.  These people love him and worry about him and go even longer without talking to him than I do. These people have known and loved him longer than I have. I should be happy for them that they get a chance to hear his voice and see his face, I know how much better it is than emails. And I am happy for them, I truly am. It’s just hard to feel that way when it’s been days without an email, over a week since I’ve heard his voice, and well over a week since I’ve seen his face.

I partly think I’m so covetous of that time because I want to talk to him for not only me, but our son as well. It makes me sad when he watches the videos Daddy made for him and he’s trying to talk back. I want him to really be able to talk and see his Daddy. But there’s a reason one of the commandments is “Thou shall not covet…”, nothing good comes of it.

I’ll get a handle on this. I’ll learn to not feel so left out when he decides to let others know that he loves and misses them, because I know how much he loves and misses us. I know that all the phone time in the world isn’t gonna make this easier. So I choose to let this be the day that I’m a little sour other people got to talk to him and we didn’t, but today is the only day.

verbal constipation.

A husband looking through the paper came upon a study that said women use more words than men.
Excited to prove to his wife that he had been right all along when he accused her of talking too much, he showed her the study results. It read “Men use about 15,000 words per day, but women use 30,000″.
The wife thought for a while, then finally she said to her husband “It’s because we have to repeat everything we say.”
The husband said “What?”

I found that joke and thought it to be strangely fitting for what’s on my mind.

There are tons of things out there that say a woman says “x” amount more words than a man on a daily basis. The reasons range from we’re programmed that way, to it releases endorphins in a woman’s brain that result in the same feeling as an addict getting a fix….regardless of the reason, I believe it.

I have a husband that graciously listens to as many words I can say and does it without complaint (most of the time ).  That husband is in Afghanistan. While I am thankful and proud, I am also sad and full of words. Full of  “I love you’s”, and “Can you believe our son is…”, “What do you want for dinner?”, and “Are you ready for bed?”

I cook for one, I go to bed when I’m ready, and I sleep alone. My “I love you’s” are sent in emails and Levi’s milestones are sent in pictures. I’m just full of words. Now understand that I have an amazing support system. I have military wives that become more like sisters each day, I have mothers, fathers, sisters, and aunts. While I am so appreciative and grateful, there are some words that are only for him.

I am a happy, proud, wife and mother that is overflowing with love. I’m a little sad tonight, but tomorrow is a new day full of giggles and smiles. Smiles with teeth!

So be prepared, I plan on giving you all the words that I’m unable to use! It’s exciting, I’ve missed you wordpress.

verbal diarrhea

So very much to say, still figuring out how to say it.

I’ll be back soon, promise.

xoxo

check.

tiny boy bathed, fed, and in bed? check.

kitchen clean? check.

muffins in the oven for tomorrow? check.

face washed/ teeth brushed? check.

now what did I want to write about again?

We’ve hit the 3 month mark ladies and gents and along with the hair that’s jumping off my head, I’m losing my mind too. Not in the crazy way, in the I can’t find the pacifier that’s in my hand or where did I put those keys sorta way. One thing I haven’t lost….my sense for when things are just perfect in the oven. Hence the previously mentioned muffins. Baking sorta keeps me grounded

Life couldn’t be better. Honestly, I’m most likely the happiest lady you could come into contact with these days. I have a healthy, happy, smart, handsome 3month old that makes everyday better than the last and I couldn’t be more grateful. I am married to a man who I love and that loves me right back and we are quite the dream team. Okay okay, enough with the sap….

Baby Boy: is determined to be mobile. He rolls onto his side but somehow I feel he may crawl before he rolls. He has replaced his mouth with a faucet and he sleeps through the night (most nights). He babbles from sun up to sun down and is very ticklish. Will listen to his Daddy beatbox all day if given the opportunity and LOVES to be in water. He had his first trip to a real pool 2 weeks ago and was on cloud9. Didn’t mind being splashed, kicked his legs, and smiled and cooed until his eyes couldn’t stay open. Unfortunately, we forgot the camera (I already feel bad enough, so can it!) but we do have pictures of getting ready for the pool!

bad to the bone.

in our little pool at home

He also enjoys our morning run If only I could get a picture of the face he gives me the whole time, it’s a look of skepticism. Also, I’m almost positive he thinks he’s a lot older than he really is. Example: We attended a pre-deployment brief last Wed. and not only was our son the best behaved child in the place, he was also extremely attentive. Listening and following them with his eyes… if my husband and Levi were given a quiz over information covered, Levi would get a higher score. Seriously.  He really is a funny baby.  Wouldn’t trade him for the world!

In other news: We attended a pre-deployment brief last Wednesday. Yeah. It covered everything we need to know for now and rules as far as what we can/cannot share with family, friends, etc.  So I can’t give you dates but I can say Levi and I will be without Daddy for the Holidays this year…boo. The plan is to fly home (TX) around Thanksgiving and stay through Christmas. It will be a good long visit, give everyone time with Littlebutt, plus we won’t be so lonesome without Daddy. That’s enough of that subject.

All in all every morning I wake up happy and grateful that I have the two best boys I could ask for. We are quite the trio! Well I leave you to catch some shut-eye. XOXO

who could resist that face?!

weekend update.

Don’t think I’ve forgotten you wordpress, I promise I haven’t.  You see, it’s just that with a growing little boy playtime hours get longer everyday, and squeezing in chores is a chore in itself! It’s not that I don’t want to spill my heart out to you, it’s that given the choice between a gummy, slobbery grin, and typing up memories…well, I’d rather make  the memories than write about them. No hard feelings? I promise to always gush about the latest whenever I get the time, scouts honor.

chubby-bubby

While I’ve been away though:

I have mastered the ultimate chocolate chip cookie. Don’t roll your eyes….it’s the truth, ask anyone that’s had one, they’ll vouch!

I tried, and succeeded at making an apple pie completely from scratch, crust and all. It was for July 4th, I know, very Susie Homemaker of me.

I’ve heard my son’s laugh. It will melt your heart.

Kept a herb and tiny flower garden alive and thriving!

Made homemade dinners, and spent all the time possible with the two best men in my life!

Next thing to conquer?….sewing. Do I dare? Also the quest for an outstanding figure…to be continued.

All my love, xoxo

and then I blinked…

Two whole months. Wowza.

To end the drought that is my blog, a letter to my sweet baby boy.

Papoose,

My, oh my, how you’ve changed so much already! Your Daddy and I look at you everyday and can’t believe how quickly you’re growing and how smart you’re getting. At least once a day I think about how unbelievably lucky I am to be your Momma. I used to sit and wonder what you were going to look like and what type of personality you would have and being able to witness both those things now is an indescribable feeling. Each morning I swear you look the tiniest bit different and I know the days of that double chin and your marshmallow arms are numbered, but rest assured I’ll nibble them as long as I can.

You are a stinker, plain and simple. Not a single day goes by that you don’t do something that cracks your Daddy and I up. The faces you make and your uncanny knack for cooing back at us at the perfect moment seem too big for your britches! You wake up happy and cooing and you go to bed the same way. All day long you smile. And that smile, boy, you melt hearts. You aren’t stingy with them either, you hand them out to anyone and everyone you see. You’re quite the social butterfly as well, letting everyone talk and fuss over you and you soak it up! We can’t make it through the grocery, or anywhere for that matter, without a people stopping to fawn over you and squeeze your chubby legs and cheeks!

You’re my strong little bull. You love “tummy-time” and really like it when Momma gets on her belly with you! You like your color rings and your noisy blocks, but I’m pretty sure I’m your favorite thing to play with I couldn’t believe it when you were holding your head up at 2weeks, now you lift your whole chest up and look from side to side! You roll onto your side and are always trying to stand up! It’s good that you play so hard during the day because it wears you out and you’re such a good sleeper! You only wake up twice a night and the 2nd time is always between 5:30-6:30 but I’m just not ready to get up that early!

The Dr. couldn’t get over how well you’re doing and says that you’re perfect! You came in at 14lbs 12oz and are in the 95 percentile! You’re also in the 95 percentile for your height, I couldn’t believe it when they told me you’re 25in. long! You’ve already grown three inches! Your head measurement came in at 40.5cm. You seem really big for your age but in comparison to your birth stats you are growing right on track! I’ve already gone through your closet once to weed out the things that don’t fit you anymore and we had to buy you 6mo. onesies and shirts! You’re just too long for the 3mo. size, they would squish your diaper all up, and barely snap!

Your Daddy and I love you more than words and are so happy we have you. I wouldn’t trade being your Momma for anything and you make every day something special. I love you littlebutt. Keep growing and laughing!

Love, Momma

You can call me Penny…Penny Pincher.

I am not ashamed to admit that I like to cut costs! With a new baby and a trip back home in the near future I am putting my abilities to the test! I have decided to try to make my own household cleaners, including refilling my Swiffer Wet-Jet with a homemade solution. That’s right, I have no shame. Updates will follow to let you all know just how well things pan out and maybe even some recipes for those of you brave enough to accept the challenge! Double-dog dare ya!

Along with my quest for frugal cleansing, I (with the help of my mother-in-law) planted a small herb garden that I couldn’t be more proud of! My next  outdoor project: pretty flowers.

Along with frugal cleansing and a beautiful patio, I have decided to make a serious scrapbook-baby book for chubbybubby. Mema was kind enough to leave robot fabric with us and I plan to give his scrapbook a fluffy fabric covering I’ve been writing down page ideas and I can’t wait to get started. A couple teasers: wolfpack page, growing pregnant belly page, marine baby page (complete with adorable photos of our son in Daddy’s stuff), all sorts of fun things like hospital bracelets and umbilical cord clamps. I’m just getting started.

Along with frugal cleansing, a beautiful patio, and sweet memorabilia, my 6week check-up is next Wed. and that marks day one of P90X. I’m jumping on that bandwagon like it’s my ride to freedom, and technically it is… freedom of post-baby body. Before you remind me that it happens all in good time and he was worth it, I know this. I know it, believe it, and intend to lose it slowly but surely. In fact, I plan to go beyond what is expected…who wants pre-baby when you could go pre-marriage?! I love being married but something about knowing he loves me for who I am, not how I look, didn’t keep me in tip-top shape. It’s a mystery… Anyway, I’m shooting for my ball-playing days, it’ll take a while but I can do, I will do it.

So I leave you to go tackle some projects and feed my ever-growing little man! All my love XOXO

whataya waitin' for? Get to it!

awful, awful, awful, awful, awful, and then something great happens.

my title comes from the new Jennifer Lopez movie The Backup Plan. In this scene Anthony Anderson plays a dad at the playground talking with the soon-to-be Daddy, and he’s telling him all the gritty details of parenting but how one little thing makes all the crappy stuff go away. Well I believe it, and while we haven’t had a lot of “awful” yet, we sure have had a lot of “something great”.

Today littlebutt is 3 weeks old and I’m flabbergasted, 21 days gone in the blink of an eye. While I’m sure that the days are clicking by much too quickly, they have been a pretty amazing 21 days. I was officially a Mommy on Mother’s Day, we have established a schedule that Levi follows almost all the time, bath-time is one of our favorite times, and let’s not forget the everyday things our son does that blow us out of the water.

Take this for example:

sup chump.

I know! Picking up his head like it’s nothing! And it’s not like this is a sporadic occurrence, oh no, he does it all the time and will hold it up for a good minute before remembering that he has a noodle for a neck. Yesterday he stepped it up a notch pushing a little with his feet and I about died, lord help me he’s trying to be mobile already….

I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this already but, we have been blessed with the best baby ever. No lie, he already goes 4hr stretches at night and nothing less than 3! He’s been doing this for about a week now and I can’t tell you how thankful I am! We have had some rough nights but they are few and far between, and to be honest I’m grateful, otherwise I’d think I had a robot baby. As previously mentioned we have a schedule now that is for the most a well-oiled machine. We’re awake and downstairs for the day at 8:30, he has his breakfast and I have mine right after. We have about 30min. of play-time and then he takes a nap. From that time on it’s a pretty consistent pattern of eat-play-sleep every 2.5hrs with Mommy joining in on nap time around 11. The rest of the time I get things done around the house and manage to start dinner by the time Daddy gets home!  Bath around 7-7:30, followed by feeding, and then bed at 8-8:30! It seems to work pretty well for us and I can’t complain!

As if that’s not a gift in itself, my first Mother’s Day was wonderful! It got started early on Saturday night with the movie(that littlebutt slept through!), then on Sunday the three of us had a snuggle morning and I received my cards, a flower, and some minty treats(one pregnancy craving that never left). We all got dressed and I was surprised with another movie! We saw Babies, and if you’re a new parent expect lots of smiles and some tears. I loved it and Matthew did too, the both of us giggling and oohing/ahhing at the things our little man will be doing in the next year. I cried when they showed the mommies&babies first couple moments after birth, the first smile, and crawling/walking for the first time. After the movie (that littlebutt slept through!) we went and had dinner with the May’s! It was delicious and we always love hanging with them. Laura kissed all over Levi and Applesauce was never more than an arm’s distance away (he’s practicing for his new brother that will be here in about a month). After dinner we headed home for some more snuggles and my first Mother’s Day couldn’t have ended in a better way.

Matthew and I look at each other once a day and can’t believe how lucky we are. Lucky to be so in love with one another, lucky to have an amazing son that is healthy and happy, lucky to have people who love us, and lucky to share all this together.

Mema and Chief get here in 2 days, and we can’t wait to have a fabulous visit with them. I’m sure I’ll have lots to share after they leave and lots of pictures! Until next time- love you all, XOXO

baby higlet

p.s. our chubby son already weighs 10lbs 10oz. They guys have given him a nickname that I don’t think could be more perfect – “higlet”.