What's Not To Love?

I ask you, Readers...What's not to love about the Snuggie?!
And in Pink, no less!


Oh the convenience of being curled up to read and still have my hands free!


It may be the dead of winter, but I can stay toasty warm while doing the simplest of chores!


And most important of all..I never have to worry about being too chilly to Blog to my favorite Readers!


Oh yes, I am a Snuggite. Come out of the shadows! Embrace the Snuggie! Or rather, let it embrace you!

The Random Bloggy Award goes to one of my best gals, Deborah S.(pictured below), for giving me the gift that keeps on warming!
Are we workin' it, or what?


And as you can see, the Snuggie isn't just for the stylish lady in your life. Christian S., shows how you men can rock this look!


So remember, Valentine's Day is right around the corner, Readers. Instead of just giving a card, shouldn't you give a gift that envelopes the one you love? ;)

7 Months...Going on 8..EEK!

So Dear Readers, I thought I'd start with a picture right off the bat.

This captures my Little Man perfectly! Tousled hair. Impish grin. Poised to lunge- at my camera.


So I feel that each time I do these Update Blogs I find myself saying "I can't believe its been *such and such* time already!" So, in the effort of trying not to sound like a broken record, I will refrain from saying it.....

............
.....................................

"I am astounded and amazed in disbelief that my Little Squeaker is 30.4368499 weeks
going on 34.7849713 weeks!"

Ok, I am satisfied that the above phrase captures my wonderment at time travel while simultaneously upholding the integrity of my desire to NOT sound like a broken record :)

Agree? oh yes, I thought you would.

SO, 7 months. What is new in the world of Lil D?

Well for him, in a word, EVERYTHING!

He is still sleeping like a rock at night! His bedtime is 7 pm. Sometimes he'll wake up around 5 am for a feed (and then sleep till 7am) but most times he'll sleep straight through to 7 am. It is so nice to have reclaimed my evenings!

He loves touching things with texture. My mom reupholstered the nursery rocking chair with a fabric I had fallen in love with when we were designing the nursery. It has raised little "dots" on it. Lil D LOVES leaning over my shoulder to touch it, pet it, grab at it..put it in his mouth. (Since he can't bring it to his mouth, he lunges at it mouth agape in an attempt to devour it!)

Sometimes he "rediscovers" his hands. He will just be sitting there when his hand will catch his eye. He will stare at it in wonderment. Turn his hand back and forth. Wiggle a finger or two. All the while just gazing in intense study of this marvelous new "find".

He is at the age when he will just randomly look at something and give a smile and a giggle. Most times I have no idea what is making him so tickled. But I love it when it happens.

He has also become The World's Most Distractable Nursing Baby! I am now confined to nurse exclusively in his nursery. For those of you who have seen the movie UP (and for those who haven't, go out-right now-borrow it, rent it, buy it. Just go! It is fabulous!) Lil D is like Dug the Dog.

Lil D: Nurse. Nurse. Nurse. SQUIRREL!!
Mama: Milk all over my shirt.
Lil D: Nurse. Nurse. Nurse. Daddy!
Mama: Milk all over Lil D's shirt
Lil D: Nurse. Nurse. Nurse. WALL!
Mama: More milk all over my shirt.
Lil D: Nurse. Nurse. Nurse. DUST PARTICLE!
Mama: Milk..well by now it's just everywhere.

Some days I find this more amusing than other days. ha!

Ok, How about a picture break, I've been talking nonstop for awhile now.

"Mama, I've got something I need to tell you. I've got a monkey on my back."



Alright, shall we resume? ;)
So at 7 months Lil D is also working on his Pincher skills. He doesn't quite have it down yet. He'll either get the thumb going, but the pointer finger refuses to cooperate, or he'll get the pointer finger into action but the thumb has decided to take a union break. He will spend countless minutes staring at a Tag on something, just stroking it with a finger, trying to "Pinch" it. I can't help but chuckle each time I see him doing this. He is just working so hard trying to figure it out!

He isn't crawling yet. But he sure wants to! He will push up his entire upper body and try to get one knee up and under him. But like I said before, he is a Master Scoocher and Roller!

We have also dubbed Lil D our Little Owl. If he is standing on your lap and something behind him catches his eye he will, without warning, twist his entire body 180 degrees to try to see what has captured his fancy!

My Little Scoochy-Moochy (a new nickname ha!) Rolled and Scooched all the way over to Daddy's chair. Which he became fascinated with, playing with it for the next several minutes.


I find it amazing how many ways he can twist and turn that little body!


There's that famous tongue!
"I want to crawl, Mama. I want to! I will! I will do it, Mama!"


But I must say, this newfound mobility can be a double-edged sword. During naptime he will scooch himself into a corner, become trapped and in the process transform into a very irate baby! He will also turn onto his Tummy, realize he does not like this, but he can't figure out how to turn back over. This will also transform him into an irate baby as well as start the game I have dubbed Flip That Baby. I am not overly fond of this game. Not even Underly fond. No, there is no fondness whatsoever.

I have also been reading the Babywise books. I have read the first two and I really like their philosophy! It has helped me trouble shoot some of D's napping woes. (While D is a master at sleeping through the night, his day time naps are unpredictable and erratic. Which makes for a potentially frustrating and long day for the both of us. Usually by the end of one of these days we are both wearing Cranky Pants.)

Ah, I think it's Picture Time :)
Now, this is a game we all like to play. (It's so funny what can amuse a baby!)
This game is called Put Some Random Object on My Head and I Will Smile and Laugh.
(Our games tend to have long titles.)

He looks like a little Sphinx! haha


Yes, He loves that monkey! On his back. On his head. Makes no difference!


He did not, however, appreciate the Wear Mama's Sunglasses game.

"Mama, I am a boooooy, these are girrrrrrl sunglasses. I will not wear them. No."


Travis and I are also at the point where we discuss everything we are putting into practice with Lil D, in order to stay consistent. This consistency business can be tiring, but we'd rather put in the hard "grunt work" now then face double the trouble when he is older. For instance, we do not allow him to twist and turn on the changing table. We are teaching him to face forward in his highchair when eating and to not grab for the spoon when we are feeding him. He's a smart cookie and picks up on it pretty quickly.

Let's see, I think those are all the updates I have for now. Oh but wait, I do have another one: I am on the books to go back to work! My first day back will be March 5 working 12:30-8:30. At first I was a little bummed to be working the evening shift, but when I thought about it it actually works out better with his nursing schedule. I am excited and nervous about going back. I will also be working April 2nd, the same evening shift.

Alrighty, well that's all I have for now! Thanks for bearing with me through this blog! I know it's been a long one! I have two more Bloggies in the works, so stay tuned!

I will end this with some Cuteness!

"Well, hello there. I would like to taste you, Shiny Silver Thing that Mama is holding."


We love you!!

Lil D was in the process of talking, probably saying "HI!!"

Burps, Belches and Belly Laughs!

Yes, you read it right Readers!

Who knew Burping could be so entertaining!
When I posed that question before, one of my dearest friends, MB replied:

" Boys and kids knew it. Moms have to relearn it when our husbands become Daddies."

Her reply made me grin ear-to-ear..I'm finding that I am relearning alot of things!

So, I hope this will tide you over until I can get to Lil D's 7 month update (Can you believe I will actually be updating in the correct month!! woo-hoooo! It's been awhile since I've accomplished such a feat! )

Hopefully I have that update, plus more adorably cute pictures this weekend or early next week

SO without further ado:


We love you!

I can hear Lil D talking over the monitor, so he must be saying "HI!" (even though the Lil Stinker should be napping ha!)

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas....Pictures!

So Readers,
I figure I need to post more Christmas pictures soon, or else we will be having Christmas in July!
While we were there we were able to introduce Lil D to some of our closest friends!

Unfortunately I was a bad Mama and forgot to take pictures with two of my best gals, Ashley L. and Christi H. But I will be seeing them again in May so I hope to correct this little oversight!

However, one of my very best friends drove FIVE (yes F-I-V-E) hours to meet me. (Take note that she had two kiddos plus her infant son with her as well!)

That, right there, deserves a Random Bloggy Award! Erin M. You had better clear off your mantle for all these awards and get used to making speeches ha! (also a Random Bloggy Award goes to her sister who let us crash and gab at her house!!)

That is her newest little one Lil B.- such a cutie-pie! I loved being able to meet him!


Our poor lil guys were sooo tired!


Lil B. "Man, what's the big deal...it's only Tummy Time!"
Lil D. "Shhhhh, Dude, you're makin' me look bad!"


Lil D also got to meet two of Travis' best friends, Dave and Ben- friends from... high school? Earlier? A long long time ago. They are Unofficial Official Uncles, if you will.

Uncle Dave...already sharing his mischievous plans.


Lil D seems to like what he's hearing...I have a feeling we're in trouble! ha!


Dave. Wearing cowboy boots. Real cowboy boots. And a blazer. And button down western shirt. Did I mention he is wearing cowboy boots?


We love our Davey.


This picture captures their 15+ year friendship perfectly.


This is Ben-Who-Was-In-Africa and his wife, Saba.
Lil D was like "Mama.....is this....Jesus??" you know, if Jesus were a white guy!


Lil D obviously loves them..and the totally awesome jungle toys they brought him. From Africa. Between my Mom-Who-Goes-to-Africa and Ben-and-Saba-Who-Were-In-Africa, this kid has some serious international connections!


During their year in Africa, they acquired a variety of new skill sets. Learning to take cold showers. For. A. Year. (that would make me one grumpy lady). Learning how to make a variety of food with little or no cooking equipment.
And apparently learning The One Handed, One Shouldered Baby Carry. As you can see, Saba is a pro!


Ben has Caaaa-razy eyes! Lil D eats his Giraffe. Sounds about right.


Ben and Travis also have a 15+ year friendship and were college roomies. Ben once emptied out most of Travis' room. While Travis was in the room. Travis failed to notice. Unlikely?? He was on the computer. Nuff said. ;)



Well folks, that is all for this little blog. More to come! We loved seeing all of you-it meant so much to us to get to introduce Lil D to ya'll!

Lil D says "HI!"

This Makes Me Happy (Part 7) (With an update at the bottom)

Ah Yes, Time for one of these Blogs again, Readers.

But I don't think you can ever have too much to be happy about, eh?

So, what makes me happy?

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!
(Now, I do have a qualifier..I love the snow as long as I can watch it through the window from my warm, toasty perch on the couch. I do NOT like the cold, I like observing the cold ha!)
("Cold" is defined as anything below 70 degrees)



SO who would have ever thought there would be snow out here in the desert?!





(ok, so here I am..in the snow..still in my pj's..though that's not really saying anything, both Lil D and I stayed in our PJ's all day!)


"Mama, I think, perhaps this might be a bit excessive"


"Baby, it's cold out here!" (We may look put together, but we are still sporting PJ's under our winter attire!)


"Mama...get me out of this..I can't put my arms down!"


The snow was absolutely wonderful! I spent one of D's naptimes just staring out of the window. The flakes were so huge they looked like feathers floating down from heaven. I have never seen anything like it before!
The whole town was hoppin' with excitement! This made everyone happy!

Also, making my own Baby Food makes me happy. I may not do much from scratch, but I feel this is worth my time and effort.
I am still trying to figure out how much to make in a batch. It's hard for me to guess how much Lil D will eat since he primarily still needs to nurse. But it really is alot easier than I anticipated, and it is really satisfying seeing Lil D enjoy eating something I made for him.

Here we have Butternut Squash (on the left), Peaches and Nectarines (Top, Right), Pears (Bottom, Right) and Sweet Potatoes (underneath the squash and pears)
All in all it took me about 2 hours start to finish.


Mmmmmm homemade peaches (Travis states that our house is not "cold", however I would like to take a moment to point out all the jackets on the chairs, and hoodie I must sport so as not to become a human icicle..then again..my definition of "cold" may be a little, shall we say, conservative?)


He loves the peaches, but they were a little tart, he smacked. alot!


Smack. Lunge. Repeat.


"Oooh Mama, that makes me pucker up!"


So what other little random tidbits have made me happy?

Red, sparkly nail polish.
Having a professional apply aforementioned nail polish.
New Tortoise-shell Peep Toe heels to show off Red Sparkly Toes.
Oh yes, that definitely makes me happy!

Pandora.com...this site is AWESOME. This website only plays music you want to hear, you can set up as many different "stations" as you want, and it is mostly commercial free! And since my beloved 5-disc CD player died, this has been a life-saver! (I don't watch TV during the day, but I HAVE to have music in the background) So happy happy joy joy!!

Now for all those who have so faithfully followed my blog, you all know and have shared in our struggle to get Lil D to take a bottle.

So this should come as no small surprise that THIS makes me very very HAPPY!

No, your eyes do not deceive you! That is Lil D taking a bottle...on his own accord!!



No fighting, no crying, no gargling on milk he would refuse to swallow. He drank from the bottle like he had been doing it all his life!
He was like "Gosh, Mama, what's the big deal?"


Ta-DAH! Empty bottle and smiling boys! (I guess I had better start pumping again ha!)


Now, having Lil D take the bottle from us in the first place is enough to make us ecstatic. But when he had finished it off he actually grabbed for it and still tried to suck on it!





Now I'm sure you're thinking (hoping?) that my blog ends here. What could possibly make me happier than my child enjoying a bottle?

This Readers. This is what I get to hear most evenings before Lil D's bedtime (have I mentioned how much he LOVES his Daddy? He doesn't do this with anyone else!)



We love you all!

Lil D has been sleeping since 7pm but I'm sure in his dreams he says "HI!"

Update: So I thought of a few more things that Make Me Happy :)

Having Lil D snuggle up after eating. He doesn't snuggle up too much anymore unless he is tired. When he was itty-itty-bitty he used to bury his head face-down into the crook of my arm and fall asleep. I had forgotten he used to do that until he randomly did it the other day. It warmed my heart and made me smile. It made me happy in a bittersweet way. Wishing for those snuggly times, but so happy with how he's growing. This seems to be the Paradox of Parenthood.

Putting Lil D in the nursery FOR THE FIRST TIME when I went to my Bible Study. I wouldn't say it made me "happy", I teared up a bit as I walked away toward my class. But it was a HUGE milestone. I learned to let go a little bit. And I realized both he and I survived!
I told several good Mommy-friends of my "accomplishment", but also shared how hard it was and my friend, Deborah S. so very wisely said that "Change happens. But thank goodness it happens so gradually!" Amen, my dear friend, Amen.

The big tub of Eucerin lotion makes me happy. Not only does it work great for Lil D's exzema, but Mama's hands get a little attention as well ha! (Any other tips for treating baby exzema??) I was told Cortizon can change the pigment of the skin, so I'd like to stay away from that.

And finally (for now) having Lil D become a Master Roller..he is rolling all over the place now! :)

So I hope you are finding lots to be Happy for!
We love you!! I'm gonna go make myself happy (er) and go play with Lil D now :)

Also, Travis has a couple of posts feeding Lil D and a video too. You can click on the "Wheel of Morality" link on my sidebar! Check it out, it's pretty stinkin' cute! ;)

Lil D at Six Months Old

Ok, Readers..I've only got a few short moments, but I thought I had better get a Blog in when I can.

So, getting out one Blog a day last week proved to be a bit too ambitious! It ended up being such a busy week!

I realize that Lil D is now 7 months old, but I haven't done his 6 month update yet.

(I also realize I still have TONS of Christmas pictures to post and blog about, that will resume shortly, I promise!)

So at 6 months, Lil D has become the Master Sitter-Upper! (I know it's hard to tell in this photo, but he is sitting up all by himself, no propping necessary!)


He also has the "I'll-melt-your-heart-with-my-sweetest-of-smiles" smile down pat!


World's tiniest Disc Golfer?


I'm throwing this one in for Cuteness Factor :)



Lil D has also remembered that he knows how to sleep through the night. His bedtime is usually 730pm, he will sleep to 4 or 5 am to eat and then sleep again till 7. It is HEAVEN!

He has learned to roll over from tummy to back. (case in point, I just went in to check on my squawking Little One only to find that he had flipped himself over onto his tummy.!)

He has also become quite the chatterbox over the holidays, making "Baba", "GaGa", "Dada" and "Mmmmm" sounds.

His daddy also taught him how to stick out his tongue. It is the cutest, silliest thing you've ever seen!

He likes to blow raspberries on my arm. He also likes to suck on my arm, but since I really don't want a hickey I try to discourage this! ha

We love having our daily story time.
Lil D loves books..


Eating them, that is!


This Red Monkey is one of his absolute favorite toys! Thank you Gram and Grampa C.!
(red is his favorite color, but he is now loving Yellow too)


He loves sitting on his Daddy's shoulder


Going for afternoon walks is also one of our favorite things, as you can see it tuckers him right out! (I love that he fell asleep holding onto another of his favorite toys!)


Let's see...I think that might be about it for now!

He is also eating baby food. I don't have alot of the pictures, but I will post what I have!

He was NOT a fan of chicken. At all.
Not that I blame him. It looked and smelled like cat food.


I know what you are thinking "Look at that big boy, wanting to feed himself!" Ummm nope. That is him trying to hold back the spoon so he doesn't have to eat that chicken!!


His face says it all! ("No thank you , Mama!")


Peas were a much different story. He LOVES them! He would LUNGE for the spoon with his little mouth open like a Baby Birdie and start grunting if I didn't get the spoon to his mouth quickly enough!


Now this, Readers, this is Lil D grabbing at the spoon trying to pull it to his mouth. Apparently Mama was taking too long giving him his peas!

He LOVES sweet potatoes, peas, pears, and apples and bananas. He likes carrots, but they aren't his favorite. And the jury is still out on avacado.

I am making his baby food and I am loving it! It is so easy, and I love that it is fresh, tastes better and a heckuva lot cheaper ha!

These next few weeks I will be introducing butternut squash, peaches, nectarines, broccoli and spinach.

Hmmm so Mama's Milestones?

Well I will probably be going back to work either in February or March. Only every other Friday though when Travis is off work. My boss is letting me come home to nurse. I am both excited and nervous about this. I know it will be good for him (and me), but it will definitely be an adjustment leaving him for most of the day!

I am also learning to be more relaxed as a Mama and learning what I need to be firm on, and what I can be flexible with.

I am still doing my workouts from home. (I don't miss the gym at all, surprisingly)

I still find the time for a great book and don't feel guilty taking time for "me".

I feel I have a pretty good grasp as far as my daily routine goes. I feel I have hit a really good groove. (I probable just jinxed myself typing this out!)

I learned that I was trying to do too much last semester. I has a part of this group, and that group, and going to church and trying Sunday School and then Home Group on Sunday night. It was WAAAAAY too much. I was stressed out, and Lil D's schedule would get all messed up.

I learned that there is a season in Life for everything. I am a happier Mama and Lil D is a happier baby when I don't have so much on my plate. So I figured out what my first priorities were and dropped everything else. I have learned to say "No." to things, and then not to feel guilty about not doing everything.

It's all about finding a good balance.

Well folks, I think that is about it for now. Lil D is still taking a nap. It is gloriously cloudy and rainy outside (a rarity out here in the desert). So I am going to curl up with a book and enjoy it!

I love you all sooo much! I will try to blog again later this week!

Lil D says "HI!"

(singing) I got da Power!

To make my son look like a rooster!

Oh dear Readers. As a Mama to a little baby I have so little control over what my baby does!

I can't control when he decides to fuss, when he will nap or finally fall asleep (I have had the occasional daily mantra "Please nap, please nap, please nap." before..as in yesterday haha!)

I can't control how he will respond to others, who he will give smiles to.

I can't control the amount of drool he produces. Or poop. Or pee. (SO much from one so little!!)

I can't control his spit-ups, or whether or not it happens on one of my favorite blouses right as I'm walking out the door.

I can't control when he will make those milestones, when he will crawl, stand, or talk. (I can, however, control myself and not compare him to others)

I have found that SO MUCH of being a Mama is out of my control.

Except....

Except Readers, I do have the power of what he wears and what cute things I can do to his hair.

God truly does meet all our needs and has a sense of humor ;)
Heh. Heh. Heh.








I can't control my heart from overflowing with love.

I can't control my heart melting when he pauses from nursing, looks up at me, and reaches to place one little hand on my cheek.

I can't control my pride for him when he finally does accomplish a milestone he has been working so hard for.

I can't control my laughter when he wakes up from a nap giggling and talking away.

SO much is out of my control. Sometimes I feel that I am just along for the ride. But God is good, He gives me the strength, the wisdom and the perseverance I need for the day, the hour, the minute I need it.

He has put in my charge my sweet little boy. So what I can control I will, and what I can not I will let God.