Here we grow!

Well, hello blog.  It's been a spell.  Before I start updating, I wanted to share the following which is the draft of a post I started over 2 months ago:

I know, I'm getting wwwwwaaaaayyyyy behind on updating the ol' blog, but y'all, I seriously had no idea how hard this working mommy thing was.  I barely have time to take care of the basics around here like personal hygiene and laundry.  If I have to choose between blogging and having clean underwear, clean underwear wins, hands down, every time.  I'll try to do better, but no promises.  

Soooooo...yeah.  Two months later and I'm still way behind, clean underwear is still winning, and I still can't make any promises.  I think it's safe to say I won't win the blogger of the year award, but I do want to try to set aside some time for posting in the future.  Now, enough of that.  Time to give the people what they want (that being updates on the little one).

Since my last post, we've gone through three months of "birthdays."

3 months old

4 months old

Is he not just the cutest little punkin' you ever saw?  

Things he's doing now: rolling, grabbing everything he can get his hands on, trying to sit up, chewing his toes, holding his bottle, playing with toys, babbling, and showing an amazing ability to get from one place to another and leaving me wondering how in the world he got there.

Besides getting bigger and cuter, here are just a few other things Weston has been up to.

1st Halloween costume...I'm sure he'll thank me for this later.

Attempting to get him to eat solid food is simultaneously the one of the messiest, most hilarious, most frustrating things I've ever done.  He laughs, he cries, he fights for spoon-control...it's never a dull moment.

We met Santa and loved him!

This little guy really is the happiest and sweetest baby.  I don't know how we got so lucky but I thank God every day that he is ours.

We've been enjoying all our firsts as a family of three (or four if you count the dog...and we do).  And having this little guy around has made everything this year the best it's ever been.  Even though parenting is the hardest, most exhausting, scariest, most challenging thing I've ever done I can't wait to do more of it.  I can't wait to see what new milestones, challenges, and memories await in 2013.  I have a feeling it's going to be the best yet!  And we'll ignore the fact that Weston started the new year with the stomach bug...surely it can only get better. :)

Two Months



Weston at one month and two months...we are losing hair and gaining fat rolls and pinchable cheeks.

 Holy moly!  How can a baby change so much in just one short month?!  And how can I already love something so much?

Weston, you are, without a doubt the best thing that has ever happened to me.  I feel like in the last few weeks I've finally become the person I was meant to be...all because of you.  I don't know how else to describe it other than to say that being your mom makes me want to be the best of who I am.  Everyday with you brings me the greatest joy. 

You are such a happy baby and you love to smile and laugh...my favorite sound.  You are getting good at lifting your head up but you still prefer to exercise those legs during tummy time.  Lately you've been staring at your hands and feet and figuring out they are attached to you.  When you're awake, you are always alert and looking around at what's going on.  And, Lord have mercy, you are the squirmiest little thing.  I'm guessing this means you will be very active when you start crawling and walking???  Daddy and I are trying to prepare ourselves.

Happy two months to the little boy that makes our world go 'round.  We love you more than you will ever know.

What's up doc?

One health baby...that's what's up! 

Today was our two-month checkup and first round of vaccinations.  Ugh.  But our little guy was a super trooper (as long as we ignore one small hissy fit when we first arrived...and by small I mean so loud I could barely hear what the nurse was saying) and only cried for a few seconds after his shots.  Plus J took a long lunch break so he could go with us which means he got to hold Weston while he got poked and I didn't even have to watch.  Thanks daddy!

Weston now weighs 11 lbs. 10 oz. (55th percentile) and is 23.8 inches long (80th percentile).  Our baby is growing so fast!  The doctor says he's doing great and even told us...wait for it..."You're doing an awesome job."  Sigh...sometimes you just need someone to say it out loud...even if you're not entirely sure it's true. :)



On our way to the doc!  Could I love this little punkin' any more?  Doubtful.



Battle scars.

Hangin' out with big sister makes everything better...Dixie's not so sure. 
(I'm loving the little jelly rolls on his legs!)

Bonus:  Brother man has slept like a champ all afternoon.  And check out those eyelashes.  I die.

Does anything feel better than knowing your child is healthy and happy?  I'm thinking no...so grateful.

Target and pumpkin spice lattes...these are a few of my favorite things

What makes this girl happy? Well, that question has multiple answers, but one of them is a successful trip with just me and my boy to Target. Some may or may not be aware of a slight obsession I have with Target...as in, about 75% of my wardrobe comes from there. So when my first attempt to take Weston a few weeks ago was an epic fail, I thought my Target shopping days were over.  But yesterday I decided to try again.  And I knew it was gonna be a good day when the first thing I saw was that the in-store Starbucks is now serving pumpkin spice lattes...mmmm...heaven in a cup.  And besides a short crying session in the shoe department, Weston was a perfect little angel.  Apologies to the man who came around the corner and heard me shushing, then turned around and shushed his wife...I promise I wasn't telling you to be quiet.

So, mama was able to buy some shoes and baby got some new shades.

And a happy mama makes a happy baby. :)

If you're wondering why I would write about a trip to Target, it's because this is big for us me.  A few weeks ago, I was afraid my life would be limited to 30 minute trips to the grocery store before J calls and says the baby won't stop crying...or the only eating out we would do would be from a drive-thru.  But this Target trip gives me hope.  Hope that I won't die of cabin fever and that as much as it irritates you when you have a tiny baby and people tell you "it gets better"...it is actually getting better. 

We're learning what Weston likes and dislikes and how to keep him happy...and I think that may be my most favorite thing of all.  Plus raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens.

A few things...

1. Parenting. Is. Hard. I knew, but I didn't KNOW.
2. Somehow our less than two-week-old is spoiled. After swearing it wouldn't happen, it happened. How?  I don't know.  He will not sleep unless someone is holding him...he cries...and cries...and cries...and that makes doing anything else (eating, going to the bathroom, brushing teeth, etc.) pretty much impossible.
3. I may or may not have had an epic meltdown caused by #2 on this list.
4. My lunch sat in the microwave for over an hour before I had time to eat it today.
5. J goes back to work on Monday and I have no clue how to do this on my own. I am in need of prayer.
6. I am having severe anxiety about traveling 2 hours with a newborn to be a bridesmaid in my cousin's wedding next weekend. Xanax may be in my near future.  Did I mention the wedding is on a boat?  I have nightmares about people throwing themselves overboard when Weston won't stop crying.
7.  My mom left yesterday morning after staying with us for a week and a half...and I cried...hard.
8.  My baby still will not breast feed.  Many tears have been shed on both sides.  (Anyone noticing a pattern here?  Crying and anxiety...poor J.)
9.  I would pay someone big bucks to hold a paci in a newborn's mouth all night.
10.  Despite the whiny tone of this post, I am so in love with our sweet angel.  Like, a words-can't-describe-do-anything-in-the-world-for love.  And due to #2 snuggling with a side of kisses is now a favorite pastime around here...so I can't  complain too much. :)

I'm hoping I have time to be back soon with some non-whiny posting.  Until then, here is another picture of our precious baby.

To baby...

Dear Weston,

Thoughts of you have consumed me lately.  I have so many questions floating around in my mind about you.  What will you look like?  How will you act?  Will you be a good eater?  A good sleeper?  Will you be shy or outgoing?  Thoughtful or impulsive?  Will you be a planner like your daddy or go with the flow like mommy?  I don't know the answers to any of these questions yet, but I do know that no matter what they are...good or bad sleeper, cranky, shy, loud, quiet...you will be loved unconditionally.

I have so many hopes for you, my precious baby.  I hope you learn from us the importance of family.  I hope we can be an example of how to put God and others before yourself.  I hope you learn how wonderful it is to laugh and not take yourself too seriously.  I hope we can teach you to love selflessly, work hard, enjoy simplicity, be open-minded, stand up for what you believe, be independent, give to those less fortunate, be respectful, enjoy learning, and so so many other things.   There are so many things I want to teach you and show you.  I can't wait to take you new places and see your face light up when you experience something for the first time.  But most of all, I can't wait to just hold you and tell you how much I will always love you.

Get here soon sweet boy.  Your mommy and daddy are so ready to meet you.  We love you so much already.

Love,
Mom

Here you are at 39 weeks.  Your due date is exactly one week from today!

Summer Reading

This is what I'm spending about 75% of my time doing at the moment.  The other 25% is split pretty equally between trips to the refrigerator and the bathroom.  I'm calling this my version of nesting since, much to my disappointment, I have felt no urge to mop floors, dust blinds, or do anything else remotely productive.

In my quest for parenting knowledge, I came across an article that someone posted on Facebook (I've tried finding it again but can't) comparing American children to other cultures. My understanding of this article was that our kids are spoiled, disrespectful, self-absorbed, impulsive, and aren't capable of reacting appropriately to hearing "no," while children in many other coutries are well-behaved, responsible, and respectful.  I don't necessarily agree with such broad generalizations and, as a teacher, I have known many kids that do not fit this American characterization...but I have to admit, I've also seen many who fit the description to a T (and I have a parlyzing fear that my child will turn into one of them).  The article also made a reference to French parenting which resulted in googling which resulted in spending $25.95 on this book.

After a little more research I found out I'm about six months behind (story of my life) and this book was "highly anticipated" earlier this year.  So unless you're living under a rock like me, you've probably already heard of it.

I have to say the book fascinated me.  I read it in less than 24 hours and am hoping I have time to go back and read it again.  Not to say that I agree with everything in it by any means, but the French definitely have a few practices that are worth considering.  A few that caught my eye were:

• Most French babies sleep through the night around 2 or 3 months old.  Say what?!
• Children are taught how to wait for things.  For example, their parents' attention or dinner at a restaurant.
• It is important for children to learn to play by themselves.  The parents should not have to constantly provide entertainment.
• Kids eat what parents cook.  No one will prepare you an extra meal of chicken nuggets and mac and cheese. 

But, what I found most intriguing were the differences between children's behavior in our culture and theirs.  The American mom who wrote it lives in Paris and talks about her daughter being the only child she has ever seen throwing a tantrum and how French kids in restaurants would quietly entertain themselves while hers was shredding napkins, throwing food, and running around tables.  Obviously, I know that every child and parent is different.  Certainly there are well-behaved American kids and badly-behaved French kids. 

But reading this did raise a question for me about the overall attitude of the two different cultures when it comes to parenting.  According to the book, the French seem to have a more laid-back yet firm approach that encourages children to be independent at a very young (most Americans would probably say too young) age but leaves no question as to what the child's boundaries are and who is in charge...and, shockingly, everything doesn't revolve around the child.  Yet, it seems to me, many Americans are all about giving our children our undivided attention at all times and providing them with whatever they want when they want it...and then feeling guilty when we find that's impossible.  Again, I'm speaking of my observations of the overall attitude...I know not everyone thinks this way.  But my question is this: Are you viewed as a "selfish parent" if you don't subscribe to this type of American parenting?  Or, do people raise their children this way because it is fulfilling some need to have another person be completely dependent on them?  And isn't that, in a way, selfish also? 

I am not saying one way is right and one is wrong...just very interesting contrasts.  I think this probably confused me more than anything, but like I said, I couldn't put it down.  I would love to know anyone else's opinion on this or thoughts on parenting in general.  I'm sure for the first few months J and I will just be wingin' it!

Now, I'm off to read about breastfeeding...but don't worry...I'm not planning to post about it.