Nine Months

It has become customary for me to chronicle G's monthly posts a bit late, but on the flip side, I get to fill you in on all of the exciting details and accomplishments from that particular month.

The nine month mark is always a big deal to us mamas because we now officially have a baby that has spent just as much time outside the womb, aka "baby house," as they did inside.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.  We all know that by that dreaded ninth month in pregnancy we were SO ready to get that baby out.  Just thinking about that time (although honestly, I think I've blocked most of it out - isn't that how we are supposed to want more kids?) makes me uncomfortable.

Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE this age much more than the newborn days, but like anything else, there are some downsides too....

G refuses to lay still on his back while I change his diaper, and 99.9% of the time he flops and flails while I am attempting to change the stinkiest and nastiest poop of them all.  This usually prompts a quick bath, so you can't fault us for lack of cleanliness and hygiene in our house.

I have been using a few signs (as in sign language) with G, but he thus far has not signed anything back. Instead, he yells and grunts when he wants "more" or anything really.  He is very vocal.  Ha!  I guess it's his way of informing me of what he thinks about signing and he would just rather "talk."

He is always into EVERYTHING and he particularly enjoys things he is not supposed to have or touch, i.e. the entertainment system, laptop, any cord or breakable item, etc.

The upside though?

This boy.

He is funny and makes me laugh constantly.  He is also easy TO make laugh.  His preferred method of transportation these days is still the tried and true crawl, although he will pull up on anything and cruise along like nobody's business.

He has also developed a lovely (cringe) clingy phase right now and wants to be held often.  This is not easy to do when I am watching the sweet little 2 month old, but we are adjusting and learning to cope.

He has a pretty good and consistent daily routine that I *try* to stick to as best as possible.

He is still, thankfully, super easy to get to bed when he is ready.  He goes down between 7 and 7:30 at night, occasionally earlier and occasionally later.  He is up almost always at 7:00 in the morning, standing up in his crib with a big smile on his face.  He is also a great napper at home (wasn't so much at daycare) and takes 2-3 naps that range anywhere from 1-3 hours each.

He eats three meals a day, plus has 1-2 snack times.  Level 3 foods finally don't induce his gag reflex, so we are working on adding more texture to his meals.  Still rockin' the pureed foods, although he does greatly enjoy munchin' on puffs, yogurt melts, and mum mums.  If he sees them, he will give you the very successful, "Stare and holler," until you satisfy his desire (and appetite).  I swear that he eats non-stop, it seems, but at his 9 month well check he was only at the 50th percentile in weight.  He must burn those calories fast with his constant on-the-go activity.  Hmmmm... maybe he's on to something?  Hehe.

This month I tricked him (I know, bad mama) into eating AND enjoying those dreadful peas.  I found a great organic pouch mix of spinach, pears, and peas that took no convincing for him to chow down.  He also tried his first "table" food this past month - scrambled eggs and toast.  He didn't hate it but didn't beg for more.

He takes anywhere from 24-32 ounces of formula during the day.  R says he will be glad when he's not paying for formula anymore since G consumes, on average, a pouch of Enfamil a week.  Not so easy on the bank account, but we are in the final home stretch of our formula days.

He is still wearing size 3 diapers and a mix of 6-12 month and 12-18 month clothes, depending on the brand.

Nine Month Stats:
weight - 21 pounds - 50th%
height - 29 inches - 75th%
head circumference - 95th%+ (big head, big brain? ... or so we can hope)

Things he loves: sleeping with his paci and bunny blanket, playing with his daddy, giving hugs, pulling up and banging on anything, dumping his toys out of their containers, looking at animals, going for walks, watching older kids play, "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" song

Things he does NOT love: being told "no," riding in the car longer than 20 minutes, eating peas, not getting his way (doesn't everyone hate that though?)

Dear G,

You are quickly becoming my little boy instead of my little baby.  In fact, I no longer sign cards to people with "Baby G," because I don't think of you that way.  Whenever we take care of Baby J, I always point him out as "baby" and have to remind myself that you are still, in fact, a baby.

This past month we braved through your worst sickness yet only to find out your fever had morphed into an ear infection.  Mama is so glad for antibiotics!  It was hectic to be at home with you and not at work, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.

You still love crawling over to me just to pull yourself up, throw your arms tightly around me, and put your head on my shoulder.  I love that so much.    One of my hopes for you is that you are always a kind hearted, sweet boy.

Your dada and I have affectionately started calling you, "Little Bruiser," because you play HARD.  You have had your first couple of falls bonking your head, and even though they didn't leave actual bruises, I know they won't be the last.  Such is the life of a boy, I suppose.

I love you to the moon and back, my little man.

Love,
Mama

Things I Love Thursday

Lo and behold, I survived the end of school and lived to tell about it.  It was a frantic sprint to the finish line (hence my lack of posting), but everything was turned in, checked off, etc, and all of my tubs o' crap (as R likes to call them) were lugged home.  As the mountain of tubs grew higher, R would give me bewildered looks and ask me how many more I was bringing home - hehe.  I don't think he understands the amount of stuff (insert other word here) that teachers amass throughout their careers.

I only have a meager five years under my belt and I've only taught the same grade level, but I DO have an enormous horde.  Oh yeah, and the reason for bringing home this said enormous horde?  I am taking next year off!  Yep, just me and my sweet boy (and the cute little 2 month old I am taking care of - but that's for another post).

SO, in celebration of the year ahead at home with my main squeeze, let's do another, "Things I love Thursday," shall we?

1. iPlay swim diapers/swim trunks - Now that it's "officially" summer, we are starting to crash my parents' pool with more frequency in addition to the Saturday morning swim classes that we still attend.  The swim facility requires that all children in diapers wear TWO reusable swim diapers.  Why?  Disposable swim diapers really don't do a great job and become water logged more than anything.  Reusable swim diapers are not only better for the environment, but they do a much better job of keeping the pool free of yellow water and floating logs.  ;)

After doing my research, I went with the iPlay brand and LOVE them!  I bought a plain white swim diaper (snaps on the side make it incredibly easy to get off) and a cute pair of swim trunks with a built in diaper.  So, G wears the white swim diaper and then the swim trunks.  I thought it would be really bulky looking, but it's not any different from how a baby looks with a diaper and shorts.

The website where I have purchased all of G's swimwear can be found here.

2. Boon flair high chair - We finally graduated G from the Bumbo, where we have been doing all of his mealtime feedings, to a high chair.  Yes, we seriously lasted almost ten months in the Bumbo (with a tray of course), and can honestly say that it was well worth the cost.  When researching high chairs, I was torn between a space saver (seat that goes on your regular dining chair), a seat that clips on to the counter, or a stand alone chair.  Even though it's another piece of furniture essentially, I decided on the Boon because of its great reviews on Amazon and its modern look.  We just started using it yesterday but love it so far!  The best price I could find for it (plus free shipping!) was found on Babies"R"Us.

3. New laptop!!! - Okay, this one I am really loving!  I came home from work one evening last week to find a card for me sitting on the table "from" G.  In it, "G" told me that I was such a good mommy and to go look in the bathroom (kind of scary when you have a baby not knowing what you'll find in there.. hehe).  Inside was a big gift bag holding a new Mac Air laptop!!!  Eeeeeek!  It was so thoughtful and obviously well received.

Those are my top 3 "things" at the moment.  I'm also loving staying indoors with the babies and being completely oblivious to the record setting temps outside.  I'm also loving planning G's first birthday party (yes, I know it's still a couple of months away but a mama's got to start planning early!).

As I've said before, life is good.  :)

Wordless Wednesday

The Fever

I think I'm going to refer to this past week as, "The Great Fever of 2011." Let's hope it doesn't get topped by anything in the months to come.

Since Sunday afternoon, G has had the "feva." And no, I'm not referring to the "Beaver (as some of the first graders call him - ha!) fever!" I'm talking about the horrible, no good, nasty fever that all moms dread and quiver in fear just thinking about. The kind of fever that leaves your normally sweet baby cranky, clingy, and all sorts of out of whack.

You never know which department it will hit next - sleep? Yes, we just love waking up all night long to deal with Mr. Grumps. Food? Why yes, it's awesome when you know your baby is hungry, yet refuses to eat his solids.

Fortunately for us, it did NOT affect the poop department. ;) That area was still running like clockwork, with many an outfit retreating quickly to the washing machine after diaper changes.

I feel so much more sympathetic for working moms who do not have the PTO but have to stay home nonetheless to take care of their sick kiddo(s). I am fortunate enough to have banked sick days because I definitely needed them this week! I have tried my hardest not to stress out too much because besides having a sick infant, which is already the pits, I have a bajillion million things at school I need to check off my list before the end of the year.

FYI, when I say end of the year, I mean in NINE days!!! So yeah, this week I have had to revert back to my old mantra of, "This too shall pass."

...
I WILL get all of my testing done and my data entered by 5 p.m. tomorrow.
I WILL get my classroom cleaned and packed up.
I WILL have all of my grading done and my data entered by Monday at midnight.
...

You get the idea.


But going back to my original train of thought, having a sick baby is like having a newborn all over again. Except this time around, your baby is mobile and does not sleep as much. This past week has been spent ...

giving lot of cuddles.

Working from home means you can wear your favorite ball cap and the "boss" doesn't mind.  :)

playing with our new toys.

Isn't he awesome?!?  Another CL find for only $5!

This was part of the loot from the multiples' mom, but we now refer to this truck as the "possessed toy."  Ha!  The other night it was making its sounds while in the OFF mode.  Needless to say, it freaked us out and pissed us off for waking us up multiple times and spent the next day outside in time out.  Since then, it has come back inside and hasn't bothered us again. So weird!  But G loves it, so we are keeping it.  

making new gourmet foods for little man's young and refined palate. ;)

Tomato and basil with cauliflower and carrot

doing LOTS of laundry.

and trying to get sleep WHEREVER and WHENEVER.

Poor baby, you know he's not feeling well when he does this in the middle of the day.

After a LONG and horrendous night, we finally brought him into bed with us.

I love my lovey but I am sooooo glad the fever is gone. Now if we can just get rid of this runny nose and cough!

Things I Love Thursday .... errr, Saturday

So this post was meant to go out on Thursday, but blogger was having some technical difficulties.  I didn't even attempt to get on yesterday because I pulled the Grandma card and went to bed at ... drumroll please ... 7:30.  Yep, because that's how lame cool I am.  Ha!  It definitely brought back pre-baby memories of going to happy hour on a Friday, having a few drinks, and going home and CRASHING.  Long week + good drinks will do that to you!  To be fair, I did have a margarita after work and blame that for my sheer exhaustion.  ;)

1. Trader Joe's is looking to come to Texas!  For a long time now I've seen people on blogger and FB gushing about this place.  While they have their eyes set to open a branch in my town, I've also read conflicting reports that we are not in their "two year plan."  C'mon already!

2.  First graders and the funny things they do.  One of my little friends decided to steal one of my books and then had the audacity to write her name in crayon on the page where it says, "This Book Belongs To _____."  But wait, it just gets better.  I guess she took it home with her because the next morning in the gym when I had morning duty, she excitedly takes it out of her backpack and asks me if I can read it to the class later.  She quickly informs me that her book is also ripped (it has a torn corner on the first page), but that she did that to the book when she was in Pre-K.  I later ask her about it when she is wondering when I'm going to read it, all the while giving her my stern look and telling her that, "This is your chance to tell me the truth."  This is how the conversation went...

Me: This book looks exactly like mine and my book is missing.
D: (looks away)
Me: So, does this book belong to me or you?
(...crickets chirping... it seems like 5 minutes have passed ...)
D: (in a VERY quiet voice and she is NEVER quiet) The one that starts like 'yarn.'

Ha!  She couldn't come out and say "you."  The one that starts like 'yarn.'  Just the fact that she had the nerve to steal my book and then thought she could get away with it right in front of my face!  Too awesome for words.

3.  Craigslist.  Oh, the CL.  This past week I scored not only the toy I was looking for, but the lady then just gave me two other toys with it - all for $15!  Holla!  All three would have cost me over $100 on amazon.  They took a bit of cleaning, but it was well worth it.  Also, just because I think it's funny who you can run into - the lady I bought the toys from is a certain mom of multiples here in town that has her own show on a cable network that features her family's life.  Thanks for the great deal!

Cha-ching! That's the sound of money staying in my bank account ... or R's wallet.

4.  Mother's Day.  I'm still loving my beautiful flowers from last weekend AND a perk of taking your baby to daycare is that he brings home cute art projects.  :)

I was also greeted to a dozen MORE roses and chocolates on Monday because that is the day they celebrate Día de las Madres in México.  ¡Viva México!  The sweet boy that gave them to me then excitedly turned to his classmates and told them that he was going to get a card from me.  I always write thank you cards to my students after they give me something, so he was really looking forward to his.  Too funny!

5.  These new razor blades.  A few months ago R went to the store, and I asked him to pick up a few items for me, such as moisturizer and razor blades.  I showed him which ones I wanted and when he came back, this is what he brought:

My first thought was, "What are these?!?"  Definitely not something I would have purchased.  BUT, since I like to give credit when credit is due, I actually really like them.  Not what I was expecting, but they work really well.  I thought it was a gimmick, but they do still shave nicely and you don't have to buy shaving cream anymore.  I think I might just use these from now on!  :)

6.  Our new bath tub.  While I'm on the topic of shaving,  I might as well show you our new tub.  I love taking baths.  Like serious love.  When we had the upstairs remodeled, R picked out this two person tub with my affinity for baths in mind and he put a tv on the wall.  I've never heard of people watching tv while bathing, but if you don't hear from me, you'll probably find me in the bath tub catching up on my shows.

7.  My new Target shoes.  I love me some Target and I'm loving my new shoes that I recently got for $18!  I didn't even have to break them in and they coordinate with so many things in my closet.  I'm trying to branch out and get shoes other than brown and black.  I can wear them all day at work without having my feet hurt and they don't make my feet sweaty.

8.  She did it!  My little sis graduated from nursing school!  I am so proud of her.  :)

Group shot of the siblings, plus one honorary bro-in-law

9.  Summer vacay is just around the corner ... 14 more days until freedom!

Eight Months

I have always said that the 8-12 months age range is my favorite, and thus far G has not disappointed me.  He is SO fun right now!

This has been a busy month in our household because the boy can move!  It was hilarious to watch the transformation - as R describes it: from army crawl, to wounded soldier (army crawl with one leg limp - "Save yourself!  Leave me behind!"), to finally on all fours like a "normal" boy.

He loves to crawl and climb over anything - especially people!  He prefers to climb over you instead of going around.  I suppose he knows the shortest route possible.  ;)  He recently started pulling up on things and will cruise along the couch or coffee table to get things he wants ... usually the remotes, computers, computer cords, etc.  Once he has his mind made up, forgettaboutit.  He can be very stubborn, even after hearing the word "No!" (ha!), and will still make a beeline for the cable box, receiver, etc.  Now that he is definitely mobile, trouble is his middle name!

He has two teeth on the bottom (right one came in first, followed by the left one a couple of weeks later) and we are expecting something to pop out on top any day now.  Teething has disrupted his sleep and his happy-go-lucky mood slightly, but his eating has been undeterred.  My boy can eat!  He LOVES to eat his solids and is now eating breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a mid-afternoon snack of organic puffs and yogurt melts.  If you don't feed him fast enough he will definitely let you know!  We need to start working on him more with the sippy cup.  He's not too keen on drinking out of it but does love to bang it on his tray and toss it aside.  :)

Speaking of which, the boy loves to bang!  All boy for sure!  We haven't mastered waving or clapping just yet, but he will bang on ANYTHING with reckless abandon.  

He is still very loving and cuddly, although not quite as cuddly now that he is on the move.  I absolutely love that he will still let me rock him after his last bottle before bed.  Even though I'm aware you are supposed to put your baby down while sleepy but still awake, I admit that I do sometimes just rock him to sleep and soak it all up.  They're only this young once, right?  It reminds me of the book "I'll Love You Forever" when the mama rocks her baby boy throughout different ages of his life.  Know which one I'm talking about?  If not, you must go to B&N and at least read it in the store.  If it doesn't make your mama heart skip a beat then you have a heart of stone.  ;)

We don't have official stats yet, but we are guessing his weight is around 20-21 pounds.  He is still in size 3 diapers and wears mostly 6-12 or 9 months clothes.  Some of his onesies are getting tight in length but the pants and shorts fit fine.  I busted out his 12-18 month wardrobe but haven't washed anything yet.  

Dear Lovey Love,

You are definitely my sunshine on a rainy day - my favorite thing is to hear your giggle and see your smile.  Lately you crack up if I pant like a dog or make funny faces/noises.  You also love it when I crawl after you and say, "I'm going to get you!"  You will crawl away in a fit of giggles as I chase you ... ahhh, melt. my. heart.

Your attention span for the jumper, exersaucer, and walker is waning thin because you would much rather be crawling around on the floor.  I usually only use these now when mama needs to keep you in one place to do something without worrying about you getting into any mischief.  

You don't say "mama" anymore but instead talk about "dada" like he's the bees knees.  I forgive you since you said mama first, but it wouldn't hurt to throw your favorite gal some lovin' every once in a while.  ;)

My heart is so full because of you.  I love you to the moon and back, sweet boy.  

Love, 

Mama

  

M is for Mama

I will never forget the night I saw those two pink lines appear.  So many emotions rushed over me, though admittedly it was mostly anxiety.  However, the most enduring thought was, "Holy @#%! I'm going to have a baby... I'm going to be a mom!"  This thought lasted throughout my pregnancy until he was placed in my arms on that fateful August evening.  From that day, I have experienced a whole new range of emotions, most of which are indescribable as all of you mamas know.

I've always hoped to be a mama and even though it happened sooner than expected, being G's mama is the best gift of all.  There have been tears shed (thankfully mostly on his part), memories created, money spent, lessons learned, humility bestowed, and poop changed ... LOTS of poop.  :)

My heart has grown more full in more ways than I ever though possible.  I love you, sweet boy.  Thanks for making me your mama.

Mamas come in all kinds - first time mamas, soon-to-be mamas, veteran mamas, step mamas, adopted mamas ... the list goes on and on.  Sooo, Happy Mama's Day to all of the mamas out there ... and to all of you hoping to-be-mamas, I pray that you receive your own blessing soon and join the best club of all, also known as motherhood.