Just some super cuteness

Not a whole lot to report. So I thought I would share some super cuteness with you.

February

I really don't have a whole lot of excitement to share with you. The Packers won the Super Bowl last night. That was pretty cool. Jared and I went to a friend's house and hung out there while Christopher stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Olson. He kept them busy!!

Christopher had another tooth cut through this weekend. This time on the top right. He really wasn't even all that cranky. Daddy stuck his finger in there and noticed it this time! Miss Ann at day care thinks he will cut the other one on top pretty quick too.

He had the second half of his flu shot this morning too. Daddy had to do it by himself since I was at work. Now Daddy knows how hard it is and how quickly your heart breaks when he looks up at you with those beautiful blue eyes and shows how scared he is. I cried at work because I couldn't be there for my little guy. I wanted to protect him. Daddy did a great job and Christopher was a real trooper tonight.

I started my new job mid-January. Still not 100% sure of myself or what the heck is going on... am hoping that it starts to make some sort of sense here in the near future. Kind of tough to love it when you don't really get it. Bottom line, it's all part of the bigger plan/picture. Gotta do this to get to where we want to be as a family!

Better!

The RSV is finally gone. I think that was the longest two and a half weeks of our lives. He would cough and hack and sputter so badly. The stuff that came up was horrendous! Poor kid!

Jared & I both ended up sick as well. I had a sinus & ear infection and Jared had a sinus infection and pink eye. REALLY? This is the 2nd time he has had pink eye since Christopher was born.

I think I may have talked Jared into 1/2 days for day care! He's not having a whole lot of luck in the job hunt and I'm tired of paying out the nose for something that I truly believe Jared can do. I love our day care (even though this RSV thing scared the crud outta me), but I want Jared to have time with Christopher too. (Does that mean Christopher will start preferring Daddy over me?)

Speaking of parental preference....guess who starting saying da da da da da? Little bugger. He was supposed to say ma ma ma ma ma first. Harumph!

It won't be like this for long...

Yeah Hootie did that as a country song - it's actually pretty good. Go Google it. I heard that once while Christopher had colic and it helped me through. I definitely need to listen to it again.

I'm a LUCKY girl this morning (as I listen to Jared finally saw some serious logs behind me on the couch). Christopher has been an absolute monster (I'm sorry, but yes I am seriously calling my 6 month old a monster) overnight. Like to the point where my patience are worn so thin that I am positive that you can see right through them. Like to the point where I am such a bitch to Jared that I am LUCKY that he doesn't give me the old "F YOU" and leave me. Thankfully Jared took a major part of the "watch" last night while I tried to get some sleep.

My nerves are shot worrying about starting my new job and I'm anxious about driving today with all this new snow we got - again. So I'm trying to think of the funny things that happened over night or over the last couple nights.

Thursday night I was going through our sleep routine and Christopher got his milk drunk on. Jared had not seen the face so I whisper/call to him to come to the nursery. The milk drunk face is almost gone but still cute. Jared comes in, looks at him, Christopher opens his eyes, smiles this big beautiful smile and passes back out. Got me *right here* I tell ya. I cried like a baby.

This morning when Christopher cranked up at 2:00 or whatever time it was I finally pass him over to Jared around 2:30 a.m. I crawl back into bed and I hear Christopher babbling like crazy and then to add to the babbling symphony I hear...snoring. Yep Daddy's sleeping. While I wanted to run right out there and grab the baby and chastise Jared for sleeping I just let it go. I needed a little sleep. So at 4:30 when I wake again and STILL hear the baby but no Daddy I go out there to find Jared Zombie-like watching the tube while Christopher just pats Daddy's face. Seriously kid - ya NEED TO SLEEP.

So I feel like I seriously suck at motherhood right now. I know that this is just a phase but Lordy Love-a-Duck I'm exhausted, not loving the stuff that is going on with Christopher and feeling extremely guilty for being bitchy/crabby about it.

Sometimes I suck

OMG when Christopher is crabby I just want to run away. I play with him on the floor for three minutes until he fusses and wants to be held. I hold him and he wiggles and squirms so I put him in the bouncy/jumper thing. He sits for three minutes and cries and wants to be held again. I dislike days like these because I just don't have enough patience for it.

So dear Christopher, know that I love you with all of my heart but my God you make me remember that I should really start birth control again.

Such a Trooper!

We've had a hectic week here. Day care posted "2 confirmed cases of RSV" on Christopher's room door last Friday. I could literally feel my heart sink anticipating the worst. Christopher had been coughing a bit but I wasn't too concerned until I saw the sign. Jared went up north ice fishing over the weekend so little dude and I just hung out together. We had friends visit us on Saturday afternoon and night and it helped the day move along. He was a little fussy but not at all unmanageable (does a mom ever admit if their child IS unmanageable?)

As the weekend progressed...so did the cold. He didn't have a fever and was breathing OK, just coughing a lot. On Monday I called our Doctor's office and they confirmed that w/out a fever and labored breathing it didn't pay to go in. I kept him home from day care and we just snuggled and played a little and snuggled some more. By Monday afternoon I decided that his cough was a little too much and we decided to go to the walk-in. I'm glad we did. They tested him for RSV, did a nebulizer treatment and took two x-rays of his lungs and learned that indeed Christopher had RSV. Boooooo. Christopher was such a sweetheart through the entire ordeal and the nurses even commented that they could not believe he was RSV positive.

So we've done nebulizer treatments around the clock for the last few days and we kept him out of daycare for a couple days. They said "you can take him if he doesn't have a fever" but I just wanted my baby here. I cried and cried on Wednesday when I took him back in. He's doing tons better and isn't even having the monster coughing jags like he was - he'll get into a cute giggle fit and start coughing.

I start my new job at Sentry on Monday. I'm mostly looking forward to it. I'm getting a little nervous and not really looking forward to the commute...but trying to keep my mind on the prize - hopefully we'll move down to Stevens Point by year end. Jared and I have done some major house hunting the last few weeks and definitely have some favorites. We will need to get our butts in gear to get our current home market ready. BLECH! (eyes on the prize!!)

6 Months!

Christopher had his 6 month appointment on Wednesday January 5th. It went super. I was so pleased with the appointment over all. He took the shots like a pro! It certainly was not easy to watch them stick him or to hear him cry but I picked him right up and he was OK in less then three seconds! I'm not sure if he "remembered" last time or if me clamping his legs down was traumatic for him but he started crying when I was holding his little legs down for the nurses.

He weight in at 18 lbs 4 oz and is 26 inches tall. He's still in the 50th percentile for weight and still in the 25th percentile for height. He's our little shorty!

Jared is "up north" fishing for the weekend so it is just Christopher and I tonight and tomorrow night. I'm half tempted to snuggle down in our bed with him but I'm trying really hard to get him into some good sleep patterns. The logical part of me realizes snuggling down with him is not going to help those patterns.

I've graduated him out of the infant bath tub into a bath ring. He LOVES it! He doesn't splash with his hands as much as he did in the infant tub but I'm not getting as soaked either. He is a definite water baby; I cannot wait to take him swimming someday!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to Everyone!

Jared & I brought 2011 in with a "bang" of fireworks at Polly's house. Lots of wine, beer and plenty of champagne was pass around and around and around. Thankfully I didn't have too awful of a headache today!

Christopher had his first over night with Grandma and Grandpa Olson! He was a super good boy and officially dubbed "a handful". Ya think? :-)

Our night times have been a little cruddy again. Christopher would NOT go down in his crib without being completely passed out and then would only sleep for an hour or so before waking up. I am hoping that it was a growth spurt. Tonight was much much better. A little birdie told me his resolution was to go to bed easier for Mommy. Guess we'll see how that plays out!

I have no real resolutions for myself. I guess I don't believe in them as 90% of them are not followed through anyway. I have made a few promises to myself.

They are to be the best Mommy that I can be to Christopher. I know I'm a great Mommy but I want to keep being that way! Who knew parenting would be this tough sometimes??!!

I also want to get back in line with taking better care of myself. I was so good while pregnant. I'm still way down in my weight loss but definitely have added a few numbers back on the scale.

I am going to concentrate more on my marriage with Jared. We have a really good marriage. We fight more than probably either of us prefer but I believe we are meant for each other. I know that the first year as new parents can be really tough. We're 50% there - I think if we make it through this we'll make it through anything!

I'm behing a little with our Christmas update - we had a very nice couple of days with family. It was NOT overdone or over the top thankfully! It was a beautiful first Christmas for Christopher!

We also hit another milestone as previously mentioned. Christopher hit six months on Dec 27. I cannot believe this little dude has been in our lives this long already. It has been an amazing whirlwind of stress and goodness all rolled into one. It seems light years ago that I was bawling daily with his colic. I still don't do well with his crying, but he has never cried like that since I went back to work in September. We've had a few monster colds, an ear infection and many early mornings. All in all I wouldn't change a thing and am really excited to see what the next six months will bring!

Holiday Happenings

This time of year is always stressful for me - I never want to upset anyone by not spending enough time with them and don't want any family to feel that I am picking another family over them - child of non-traditional family. Hopefully Christopher never feels that stress.

It has been pretty busy for us. I put in my two week notice at Weather Shield. I was offered a job by a previous employer and accepted. However, I just received a second - and bigger - offer from another employer. I'm really torn and on the fence. I'm pretty sure I know which way I am going. I just don't want to burn any bridges (there I go worrying about everyone else again).

I think we are all prepared for Christmas. I took a day off of work a couple weeks ago to do some last minute shopping and knocked almost everything off my list. I think I have one last gift card to pick up and we will be set.

It was so difficult for me to not buy something for Christopher at every store. I just love to shop for him. I've always been a bit of a shopaholic but now any time I see something that "Christopher might like" it tends to end up in the cart/bag. I REALLY did contain myself as I gave specific lists to Grandmas and Grandpas and I didn't want to risk buying something duplicate. I can have a heckuva lot of fun after Christmas for him!

He's being doing so awesome! We've introduced green beans, peas and carrots to his diet. He is not the biggest fan of green beans (just like Mommy). He is okay about peas and seems to really like carrots. Coincidentally, or perhaps not, he has also been sleeping really really well overnight since we introduced the veggies.

Ha! I just jinxed myself - he WAS sleeping and is now stirring (6:45 am!!!) - I'll finish more later.

Merry Christmas if I miss you before then.

2 Years

Jared and I celebrated our two year wedding anniversary yesterday. I guess we didn't celebrate as much as we just hit the milestone. Dude surprised the heck out of me with a bouquet of flowers when I got home - two yellow roses for the two years we've been married nestled in with some beautiful red ones. Mama cried. I cry at everything these days.

I cried when he walked in the door with Christopher because I realize how blessed I am to have this amazing life. It isn't always easy and it certainly isn't perfect but it is mine and I love it.

We're celebrating tonight (because I'm such a good wife I let him bowl last night). Tonight we're going to Mino's for some Italian cuisine. I'm looking forward to it with a good glass of wine.

Randomization

I was so stressed the last time I blogged. I was at the walk-in clinic waiting for lab results feeling like pooh on a stick. I didn't have strep or mono. Just realllllly run down and a super sore throat.

I went to the doctor again on Monday to discuss PPD. I don't know for sure that I have it. I've been doing some reading and I think I may identify more with Post Partum Stress Disorder. I'm not depressed or sad as much as I am frazzled and pissed off a lot of the time. I am really really trying to learn what my triggers are (being tired) and what sets me off (feeling like I am the only one doing anything). The Doctor suggested that I start taking Lexapro and I am super hesitant to get back on the wagon. I took it for almost 5 years and then weaned myself off slowly and painfully over a period of 10 months. It was awful and I don't know if I want to go through that again.

The good part of all of this is that I am feeling a bit better physically which I hope will help me feel better emotionally. I would like to start getting some sort of exercise back into the picture. I don't know exactly how or when. Christopher gets up so gosh darn early and the mornings are pretty chaotic. I could do it at night but I am worried that it will make me more wired. I'm having some trouble falling asleep - generally after his middle of the night feeding. I lay there thinking about the things that I want to get done and my mind just runs. Gotta find that off button. Again, I'm trying to be more cognizant of these things and hoping that awareness helps.

On the Christopher front: He was super sick about two weeks ago. Definitely the worst cold that we have had to deal with so far. Day care called on a Friday afternoon to get him as he had a fever over 100*. I took him in to the doctor and they said yeah just a bad cold. I took him back in again on Sunday to the walk-in and he was diagnosed with his first ear infection. Poor little guy. That was opening weekend of hunting. Jared was so sweet and gave up hunting on Sunday to stay home with the two of us - Saturday had been pure hell. I have never been covered in so much snot, spit, spit-up etc. Christopher spit-up about 5.5 oz of bottle on Sunday. All over me, the dog, the carpet and an ottoman. He had cried pretty hard on the way home from the walk-in and was starving. I should have burped him half way through... live and learn.

He is starting to sit on his own. I had him on the floor in front of me one morning and realized that he was pretty independent. I let him rest against my shin and we've been practicing more and more. I am so amazed with his development.

We also popped another tooth this morning. I was in the bathroom getting ready for church. Jared had been snuggling with Christopher when holy hell broke loose. Christopher screamed and screamed and I thought oh I'll just grab him and he'll be fine. No dice. So I was walking around with him and I looked and thought "that looks like another tooth" and Jared came running to check and sure enough. I feel kind of bad that I missed it as I feel like it came out of nowhere. He was fine and then screaming bloody murder. We gave him some anbesol and a half dose of Tylenol and he was fine again.

I cannot believe that he is five months old already. I know that he'll be a year in the blink of an eye. I'm just trying to enjoy every possible moment.

Run Down

You don't realize how cruddy you feel until it is too late to stop the madness. I'm sitting at the walk-in waiting for lab results to come back. They think I have mono. So I know that I've been pretty pooped out lately and have been feeling pretty yucky. I didn't realize until the last few minutes how run down I really feel.
There is so much going on in our lives right now. Jared lost his job a week ago, we're talking about relocating, I'm trying to be supermom and wife and save the day. I think it is someone else's turn to be the cruise director for awhile. I have just wanted to crawl in bed and sleep for the past week or so but have just tried pushing through it.
I'm worried too about PPD a little. I feel good most of the time but I have moments where I am uncertain of what I am doing and/or if I am doing enough. I am so hard on myself and hold myself (and others) to such high standards. I'm realizing it is really hard to continually live at a "10" everyday. I just want to be the best Mommy for Christopher and a good wife to Jared. I guess that the rest - the house, the laundry, the dishes, the cleaning et al do not have to be top priority...somehow need to reconcile that I don't have as much time and that it is ok to let some things go. Otherwise I need a live in maid or Jared needs a second wife to keep the house together.

One more thing!

Check out our photographer's blog! She is the best!!!

http://www.lindseymariephotoblog.com/

Toofers!

Okay ONE tooth, but ayup! The boy has popped a tooth. I'm a terrible writer and forgot to tell you - with all the sick and stuff I'm sure you'll understand! Bottom right on Monday the 15th. It still is not completely visible but you can feel it! He was chewing and chewing on Grandpa Jeff's finger at his baptism luncheon and "now we know why". We - Jared's Mom, myself, Grandpa Jeff, Grandma Arlene - all thought he was teething but it seemed to go on and on and on! Ms. Ann from Daycare finally noticed it on Monday - she wrote me a note on his daily sheet. He was sleeping by the time I had him at home. I, of course, had to wake him up and stick my finger in there to check things out! Yay Christopher!

Here's a favorite picture of mine! Christopher is so lucky to have Great Grandma Gracie! She just love love loves him!

Four Months Four Weeks

We made it four months and four weeks without any major issues. Day care called last Friday and asked me to get Christopher as he had a fever. Babies get fevers, I get that.

Because I am a safer than sorry kinda Momma yet I called our Physician and we got in Friday afternoon - what the heck is it with kids getting sick on Fridays so that we have the whole freakin' weekend to fret?? So I pushed to get in - I swear the nurse on the phone must have skipped her empathy classes. I wanted to reach through the phone. I had to pull the bitch card out on the phone with her while I was picking Christopher up at day care. I'm sure they were real impressed. So we went in and yes he has a fever and yes he has a good cold. OK thanks. Pat on the back from the doctor and home we went.

Saturday was pure chaos. He was burning up and his nose ran like a faucet. My baby was one of "those kids" with the super snotty noses that I always gagged over in the past. YUKKO. But I was a trooper while Daddy went hunting and Christopher and I muddled through it - somehow. He cried and cried. His little voice is so hoarse. We contemplated taking him back in to the Walk-In but decided to wait it out.

Sunday morning we hung out - Jared let me go grocery shopping. I needed to get out of the house for a little bit. Christopher's fever was down and his nose seemed a little better. By the afternoon though we decided to take him in. His eyes were just watering and watering and super blood shot. I was 99% sure it was not pink eye but just wanted to make sure. And I wanted to ask if he could have a decongestant or something. He was struggling to take a bottle due to his nose being sooooo stuffy.

The magical answer is no decongestant and then she proceeded to say generally not until age 2 (OMG!). They checked him over and we found the first ear infection. I have been dreading it. A lot of Moms tell me that once you get one they are nonstop. I don't know what I can do to stop that from happening. Might have to put a call in to the chiropractor to get his opinion. I know when we were treating for colic he was super anit-antibiotic. We're three doses in tonight and seeing good results.

He has been such a trooper. I took him to day care for a couple hours today as I had a meeting that I needed to go to (am on layoff this week). He snoozed for the most part for the girls there. We came home and he was just a little ham for me. Trying to smile and just hang out. He even gave us a couple giggles! What a sweet sweet boy.

Oh! I am now an experienced projectile vomit Momma too. After the walk-in yesterday Jared dropped us off here at home and ran back in town to pick up his prescription. Christopher had been crying and crying in the car and I figured he was hungry. I try to settle him down a little before feeding him as we've had the too much air problem before. Well once he got that bottle in his mouth I sort of went with it. 6 ounces later he was "full" and I moved to burp him and thought huh you're not breathing real well. I put him over my shoulder to burp him and I swear that he must have spewed 60 ounces back out. Poor Kahlua girl took the most of it on her back, along with the ottoman, love seat, floor and down the back of my sweatshirt. I am fairly confident it was from having too much air from the crying. He also hadn't eaten that much in a few days. So maybe a combo of too much too fast. Poor guy. Kahlua didn't mind and it cleaned up pretty easy - Yay for stain resistant carpet or whatever the hell protection plan we got! The loves eat cleaned up well too - Kahlua on the other hand...needs a bath!

This 'n That

Another week gone. Time is flying so quickly. While it makes the work weeks go fast the weekends seem to zoom even faster.

The time change has kind of mixed things up a little - I never even dreamed about this when thinking about having a baby and the issues that would come with it. The first few mornings we were up at 3:45 (ohmygoodness). Along with that, for whatever reason, he has been sleeping through the night. I was thrilled with the 6 hour stretches that he was finally giving me...NOW though it has been from about 6:00 to 3:45 or so. I keep it quiet and he usually goes back down around 5 am *just in time for me to get ready for work - what a buddy, huh? I'm pushing the envelope to 6:30 p.m. though we usually have bottle in mouth at 6:15. We'll get it. Little by little.

This past weekend we finally had Christopher's baptism. I tell ya, the kid is amazing. Everyone in church was amazed at how "good" he was. He really was super. Aunt Polly held him through the first half of the service. I love how she loves him (yes Polly I know you're reading this). She worries about hogging him. Let me tell ya, if anyone hogs him, I want it to be her! She's awesome with him! Anyway...during his baptism he was super - just squeaked a little when Pastor Craig poured the water on his head. Then when we went out to dinner everyone loved on him again. He even helped Grandpa Jeff teach the bartender at the restaurant how to make a proper Old Fashioned. Then proceeded to pass out - must be tough being a baby bartender. It was pretty cute!



We had another Physical Therapy appointment as well. I must tell you that I walked out of that appointment feeling ten feet tall and bullet proof. After the little struggles we had with side preferences, potential torticollis and the right arm use Jen told me that he is actually ahead of where he should be developmentally. It had been so frustrating the times before because he was always "behind" and it made me feel like I wasn't doing enough for/with him. We have a two - three month reprieve before we go back and were given a few little things to aim for but nothing to catch up on! It was so refreshing!

He's amazing...you know? I hold this little boy in my arms when he is sleeping and just am consistently overwhelmed with such emotion from the love that I feel for him. I have loved before but never like this. My heart is so full of happiness and love. I feel like I have finally figured it out. My job may not be the most perfect, I might not always love the car I drive or the clothes I wear, but at the end of the day there is always Christopher and that makes everything else...enough. Simply amazing what someone so little can do.

Sleepy Sunday

Well hello new followers! Thank you for following me, how exciting!

Christopher is napping...again. I've been able to get quite a bit done around the house; he's been snoozy all weekend. Such a cute little snore! I *can* finally say that he isn't sick anymore. I believe the cold is done - until next time. Day care has had some hella colds and sicknesses. They just implemented a mandatory hand washing upon entering the facility rule. I'm very thankful for that. I hope that everyone respects it.

We had our 4 month check-up last Monday. Little Dude was 15 lbs 5 oz and 24.25 inches. Holy Moly! Dr. Ann said he's perfect. I already knew that but it sure is nice to be reminded by a professional. It has been an absolutely amazing 4 months. There isn't a day that goes by that I am not completely amazed by him.

I put a tub of newborn to three months clothes away this last week. Jared and I were in awe of the teeny tiny NB clothing. I barely remember him ever being that small. I went way overboard on buying stuff for him. There were tons of things he never wore or only wore once. I jokingly said we'd have to have a boy this next time (Lord knows I'd be head over heals either way) since we already have so much boy stuff and I seem to have the boy stuff down pat. He's pretty darn easy (now!).

We've been practicing with the rice cereal this past week. I think I am ready for day care to give it a try this week. He's doing an awesome job and probably gets 75% of it now. I tend to stand to close to him and he kicks me and the bowl and it goes flying. Still learning the logistics that work for both of us.

Jared and I were able to get away for the afternoon last Sunday. We dropped Christopher off at Grandma & Grandpa Olson's and we went down to Appleton to do some shopping and have dinner together. Nothing fancy, but super nice to just get away together. We really need to keep up with that otherwise I feel like we lose track of each other.

Christopher has been rolling over in his sleep and staying on his tummy. We made it through the two weeks of waking up every hour mid-roll. I'm a bit leery about his sleeping on his stomach. Dr. Ann said it was "OK". Apparently I need to sleep too (who knew?!). So our nights have been a lot better. I'm hoping to sleep train him through his first waking and then we'll have the 3:00 feeding and more sleep! I am shooting to keep him up past 7:00 too. We'll see how THAT goes with the silly time change.

We've been venturing out a little bit more again. We went out to dinner with Jared's parents on Friday night. Christopher was SO good and easy. Jared had to cut my steak for me so I could eat one handed but other then that I think we got it figured out! Little Dude & I went grocery shopping yesterday and that was quite easy. He was awesome. I'm feeling more confident again!

4 Months!

Can you even believe that our baby boy is four months old?

One year ago yesterday I learned that I was pregnant with him. The story is pretty cool.

It was my last day of work with a previous employer and it was "highly suggested" that I get the H1N1 flu shot. I really didn't want to so I thought I'll call my OB and see what they are recommending. First thing one of the nurses asks is could I possibly be pregnant. I say no since we had been trying for a while and was feeling down about it. She asks what day of my cycle it was and I said 35 or 36. She suggested I come in for blood work "just in case" since Dr. AJ didn't want his pregnant patients to have the flu shot in their first trimester. So I did. I was convinced that it would be negative. I had just put my fertility test sticks away that morning and had decided to leave it in someone else's hands.

About 2:30 that afternoon I get a phone call from my OBs office and low and behold the nurse says "I have good news for you, you're pregnant!" I was standing at my desk when I took the call and had to sit down immediately and I started to sob. I couldn't even respond to her! She asked if I was OK and I think I whispered yes and the rest...as they say...is history! I never did get the H1N1 flu shot.

Christopher has had a pretty big week here. We hit the big four month mark! WOW!! As previously mentioned, he recently started rolling from his stomach to his back. That is manageable for him as he just starts playing once the flip happens. Yesterday he took it a step further and has begun to roll from back to stomach! And then he cries! Poor guy! On top of all of that happiness he has been sleeping terribly the last week. He gets "stuck" in the middle of a roll and just cries. He's such a wiggly sleeper. I think I have gone in there a good ten to fifteen times a night to comfort him and put him back to sleep. It has made for a pretty long work week with about 4 - 5 hours of sleep a night. Zzzzz

Along with the four month marker came an attempt with rice cereal. He was quite uninterested the first time and spit 99% of it right back at me. This morning he maybe swallowed 50% of it. We'll keep trying! Maybe it will help him sleep a little.

Tomorrow is the dreaded 4 month MD appointment. I do NOT want to go through the whole shots thing again...but we managed last time so I'm sure we will again this time.

Have I told you lately...

Being a Mommy is the best thing in the whole world. I knew in my heart of hearts that I always wanted to be a Mom...I just never realized how ..."find good word to use and insert here"...amazing (not good enough but it will have to do) that it would be.

There isn't a day that goes by that Christopher doesn't do something that I find absolutely stunning. This past week he was taking his pacifier, pulling it out of his mouth, looking at it and putting it back in! Really? When did he learn that? Why can't he do it in the car? I know...baby steps!

He's such a ham. Loves loves loves to snuggle - I love this, eat it right up. Who wouldn't?

Jared, Christopher & I had our first family photo session last Friday. I am sooooo excited to see them. Lindsey does a fabulous job! We had a ton of fun. Christopher was drooling like a faucet and Lindsey found it hilarious. I'm kinda like...yuk...but it still was pretty cute! Did I tell you that I can't wait to see the pictures?

My conference last week went really well - learned lots of interesting stuff and should implement some of the ideas ...eventually. I survived one whole night away! I went to bed around 10:30 and slept straight through to 4:30. Awesome!

Christopher's cold seems to be letting up some...he still has that cough - day care hack? I don't know. He is still really schnuffly and I use that bulb sucker thing to clean out his nose. He puts up with it! But...it isn't like it was, thankfully!

They say time flies...

We've had a busy few days here again - I'm in Milwaukee at a conference and have been up since 4:30 since that seems to be my normal-ish wake-up time. I got 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep which was very refreshing. Hoping that this afternoon when it is time to get the heck out of dodge that I still feel refreshed! It was a long car ride yesterday morning on 3 hours of sleep due to doggy drama.

Christopher's cold is finally letting up. He doesn't cough/gag/sputter nearly as much as he was previously. I'm wondering if this hack is just a fact of day care. He seems perfectly happy otherwise.

We've taken to wearing bibs the past week. He is a total drool monster - so much that day care has even changed his clothes on a fairly regular basis. He also LOVES to eat his hands...every picture I take seems to have his hand in his mouth. I swear he'll get the whole fist in there eventually!

We had some home front drama again this week. I'm laughing now but I'm sure I'll have some frustration tonight when I get home. Tuesday night Jared and I were hanging out together after I put Christopher down for the night. We were actually having great conversation and enjoying each other's company. Kahlua was begging and begging to go outside - which is highly normal except she kept barking and growling. Finally, because I was sick of listening to her I just let her out (on leash thank goodness). She bolted out the door faster than I had ever seen her and returned within the minute. I let her in while saying "gosh it smells like skunk out there".

Yup, she got sprayed and then she came in the house. I have never experienced such YUK in my entire life! Jared got her in the bathtub within seconds and tried helping her - she was foaming at the mouth so it looks like she took a direct facial hit. In the meantime the smell is starting to permeate through our home. NOT GOOD.

We ended up putting her in the garage and evacuating to a hotel. Jared took her to a groomer on Wednesday but I don't know what the status of our house is. I "think" I can still smell it in some of the clothes that I brought to my conference but it might be my imagination. I was so paranoid yesterday hoping people didn't think I smelled - even after 2 showers. I am not looking forward to going home to the smell.

I am however looking forward to going home to see my little boy! I'm missing him like crazy! I'm sure the time apart is good for both of us - everyone seems to think I should "enjoy" this time apart. Easier said than done. How can you not miss them?

The OTHER good drama that happened on Tuesday was Christopher rolling over! I made him cry though because I got really excited. He did it two times from stomach to back rolling over on his right side. It was this perfect little choreographed roll. I am SO proud of him! Jared got to see it too which was great because I feel like he is missing out on some of this stuff. I forgot to ask day care about it yesterday when I dropped him off. So in my book unless I hear otherwise my baby boy rolled over for the first time!