the everyday...

Sometimes it amazes me how fate works...how you get that reminder of what life is really about just at the moment you need it most.

Just yesterday I was stressing (and blogging) about making sure Boogie has the perfect Christmas. Then today, a friend shared an article that basically put me in my place. It brought me back to reality.

I need to stop stressing about making sure Boogie's Christmas experience is exactly how I remember Christmas always being. His Christmas experience will be magical because it's HIS experience. That Christmas is just one day of the year. That what is truly important is the everyday tradition; the everyday experiences and memories. Why I let myself get wrapped up in the hype, I don't know.

The everyday is exactly the reason I decided to become a stay-at-home mom. Another wise friend said that Boogie "will have amazing memories because he has amazing parents;" and to me that is what truly matters.  That I strive everyday to show him how much I love him. The laughs, the snuggles, even the tears....the everyday.....

this Season...

I have been busy; stressing over the Christmas Season.  A few weeks ago, it finally hit me that we are now responsible for ensuring that Boogie has meaningful and memorable holiday traditions. The past few years we've just gone with the flow and not really worried about 'tradition.' But now, I feel pressure to make sure that Boogie can grow up loving the Christmas season, just like I did.

J and I grew up with very different holiday traditions, neither one better than the other, just different....

J's entire extended family lives in the same small town in Iowa (or very close by). So, holidays were quick trips spent hoping from one house to the next over a long weekend and then back home. He grew up seeing both sides of the family at every holiday.

My family is spread across the country.  We rotated every year; Thanksgiving with the Dunwiddies, Christmas with the Lockharts, then the next year we switched.  Some of my greatest memories growing up are the times surrounding Christmas.  When we were with the Dunwiddies, it was my two cousins and I on cots in my grandparent's living room with Poppy on a cot at our feet and grandma on the couch at our heads.  We'd stay up all night (grandma and poppy included) just laughing...at nothing. Lockhart Christmases were usually spent in a secluded farm house on the side of a mountain in Pennsylvania. We'd spend 4-5 days holed up in the middle of nowhere, all 15+ of us!  We'd hike the mountain to cut down a tree, make ornaments and play board games all night.  On Christmas morning all the cousins would pile at the top of the stairs, waiting for all the grownups to wake up, so we could finally race downstairs to see what Santa had left.

Christmas was such a magical time as a kid and I want to be sure it's just as magical for Boogie.  I want him to look forward to traditions every year. To one day look back and be able to say "this is what we always did at Christmas." I think this has been one of the first moments as a parent that I've realized how important things like that are and how I'm responsible for making good memories and traditions for him.

I'll be honest, it's been hard to figure out what the right thing to do is.  He has 3 sets of grandparents, 4 households of great-grandparents and countless aunts, uncles and cousins.  While I think it's important that he sees all of his family, I feel like we're pulled in every direction.  I feel like we're trying to fit into everyone else's traditions and plans instead of making our own.  Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself to make things perfect for him.  This Season just kind of crept up on me and I wasn't really expecting how hard this would be.

November roundup...

I just realized it's been a long time since I've updated this! Ooops! We've been busy!

It seems like overnight Boogie has turn from a tiny baby into a "big boy." He laughs, even when playing alone, he'll crack himself up.  He will "talk" your ear off and loves to listen to himself.  He's definitely found his outdoor voice and will sit there and yell for 20 minutes straight; not sad yell or angry yell or "i need something" yell, just yell to see how loud he can get.  Now, if we could teach him to find his indoor voice....

He loves the puppies (not sure how much they love him yet).  They too, crack him up...I didn't realize they were so funny!  Sophie is really good with him and let's him yank on her. Stewie Wussie, on the other hand, isn't so sure and usually just keeps his distance.

Boogie celebrated his first Thanksgiving! Although he didn't get to enjoy the delicious food...he did look super cute and got to hang out with family...

He is really close to sitting on his own.  He can usually hold upright for 30 seconds or so....he tends to get distracted and forget he's sitting and then....plop.

Big D, aka "The Fuzzy Man," came home for Thanksgiving.  Boogie got a major kick out of his beard and they were instant buds. He also got some great pics...

Boogie definitely thinks he's a big boy....he is now attempting to CRAWL!! The remote (his favorite "toy") is his biggest motivation.  He gets his knees up under and pushes up onto his hands then throws out his arms and legs and......belly flops :)  He does usually move a little bit....backwards....I'm sure he'll get this mastered before we're ready for it though!

So, ya...we've been busy.  I think that concludes our November Roundup....

it's boogie's world and I'm just living in it....

I never really thought I would be a stay-at-home-mom.  It sounded fun and rewarding, but I guess I never really put a lot of thought into it.  When we got pregnant with Boogie, my frame of mind changed. I instantly started feeling that motherly bond and wanting what was best for him. As I moved farther and farther along in my pregnancy, we started to realize that daycare was not an option for us.  I'm a strong believer in the benefits of the socialization and structure it provides, but I've been on the other side. I've worked in infant and toddler rooms, so I know how hard it is for teachers to provide the individual love and attention children need, especially at such a young age.  I also started to remember how many times I was the one to witness other people's children's 'firsts;' first steps, first words. I could not imagine having an almost stranger experience those moments with my son.

As soon as Boogie arrived, the decision was easy.  There was no way I was going back to work full-time; no way I was handing him off every morning. Granted, I loved my job, my co-workers, my residents, but I loved my son sooooo much more.  Plus, I worked for a non-profit and my salary was nothing to write home about....more than 1/2 of it would go to pay for daycare and well, that just didn't seem to make any sense.

We decided I would go back part-time.  We worked out a schedule so that either myself or J would always be home with Boogie while the other was at work. It seemed like this would give us all the best of both worlds. After a few weeks, we were starting to notice that this wasn't the case.  The schedule was confusing to Boogie, I had the same responsibilities I did in my 40-50 hr/week job and expected to complete them in just 12-15hr/week, and it was interfering with J's job. After 20 hours in the car (to and from Chicago) and a long heart-to-heart, we decided that "mom" would be my new job title.  From now till the end of the year I'm working on training and transitioning my responsibilities to others. Then, as of Jan1st, I am employed on a PRN, as needed, basis only.  I will be responsible for teaching a couple classes throughout the year and that's all.

Sure, it will be an adjustment...financially, mentally...but it's what's best for our family.

So far, "mom" is the best job I've ever had and Boogie the greatest boss!! I actually feel a lot busier now than I ever did before. Mainly because I'm now living by someone else's schedule and needs. There is no "me" time. It's all about what he needs now and what he will need next. We're also out and about a lot. We've joined two different playgroups and attend playdates and events about twice a week.  We're also now members of Gymboree! Boogie was definitely the rockstar, teacher's pet at our free trial class.  He had soooo much fun, that I had to keep that experience going for him.  We have found a church we like and I hope we can become involved in the programs and groups they offer as well.

J and I have always shared the household "chores," but now that I'm home...they're all mine!  If you would come see my house right now you'd know that I haven't quite mastered that role just yet......

This has been one of the best decisions we've made so far.  I love my new role.  This opportunity goes by fast and I'm so happy that I'll be able to experience this time with Boogie.  For now, it's Boogie's world and I'm just living in it....

the spoon...

To spoon or not to spoon: that is one of the big 'mommy wars' questions.

Yes, the great debate on when to start solids.  As you may remember from some of my previous posts, I'm not one to join in on the mommy battle.  I know what's best for our familly and my little Boogie and I respect all the other mommies on knowing what's best for their clan.

From the beginning, the plan for Boogie was to exclusively breastfeed(BF) for six months.  In my eyes, for our family, it's what is best; the benefits are just too great to consider anything else. We were lucky that, from the very first try, Boogie took to it like a pro and has continued to stay on his growth track with breast milk alone.

That being said, at Boogie's 4 month check-up, his doctor told us, if we wanted to begin introducing solids, that Boogie might be ready.  Not as a substitue for BF or even a supplement to BF, but just to begin introducing the idea of the spoon. We decided to go ahead and try, starting with rice cereal as recommended by his doctor.  As I suspected, he's definitely not ready for the spoon as a means of nutrition yet, BUT the experience, did make for some pretty cute pictures.....

excited for something new!

 

 

 

 

the spoon!!

what the?

eeewww.....

'huppy' halloween....

Halloween has always been my favorite holiday.  I love the haunted houses, corn mazes, hay rides, pumpkin picking, costumes and general haunting of the holiday.  Since my birthday is just a few days before, my birthday parties growing up always had a 'spooky' theme....costumes, hayrides, bobbing for apples...I really want to continue the tradition and have all of our friends looking forward to our Halloween party, just like when I was growing up.  Last year we decided to have the first annual "Huppy" Halloween party.  It wasn't a total fail, but not a true success either, mostly due to the fact that I was about 6 weeks pregnant, feeling like crap and still keeping the little bug a secret.  This year, with new baby, new role as full-time mommy, family visits, etc....the holiday just kind of snuck up on me and there was no time to plan the second annual "Huppy" Halloween Party.

Still, I think Boogie's first Halloween was a success.....He got to go pumpkin picking and experience a hayride. He had not one...

 

not two...

but THREE special outfits...

And, not to mention, a fabulously adorable costume...

He got to sit around a campfire, handout candy to trick-or-treaters, eat watch everyone else eat chili....He got to experience all those special things I remember from my childhood. 

BUT, when it comes to Halloween for my little Boogie, I plan to make each year bigger and better than the last.  So mark your calendars, plan your costumes, cause I promised in 2011, you won't want to miss our 'Huppy' Halloween....

perspective...

Throughout my pregnancy, I participated in a message board group with other mommies who were also due in June 2010.  Over the past year we have become a close group of friendly strangers.  Though we've never met, we share an incredible bond.  We were there for each other through the pain, discomfort and constant questions during pregnancy.  We were there for each other to celebrate the births of our precious babies.  We've been there for each other as we've learned to become parents. Unfortunately, we are now there for one of our mommies who is going through every parents' worst nightmare.  Last week, her 4 month old baby girl was found in her crib, unresponsive with no pulse.  CPR was performed for 1.5 hours.  Her heart was eventually restarted, but she was not able to breathe on her own. After 4 days on a ventilator and after many, many tests, the doctors declared her brain dead. Yesterday she was removed from the vent and slowly passed on while lying in her mommy and daddy's arms. R.I.P. sweet Baby Zyla.  I pray that your family finds peace.

So mommies: hold your babies tight, kiss them and tell them you love them every chance you get!! Cause events like this make you forget all the pain and discomfort of pregnancy and delivery, forget the lack of sleep, forget the random 3am wake-ups, forget the screaming and "temper tantrums."  All that matters is they are here with you, happy and healthy, and you get to squeeze them and kiss them everyday....really puts life in perspective...

ups & downs...

I haven't posted in awhile as we have had a busy week; full of happy firsts and sad set-backs.  I'm the kind of person, when given the choice, opts to hear the bad news first so....

Boogie is, without a doubt, on a teething rampage.  My always happy (with just a sprinkle of crabby) baby is now mostly sad with just the occasional smile. I can even hear it in his cry, which has gone from "i'm tired, but will fight fight fight falling asleep" to "mommy it hurts so much, I'm miserable!" After two solid months of sleeping 10 hours a night and a routine/schedule you could set you could set you watch by, we have regressed to chaos (not as crazy as newborn baby chaos, but for us, it's a mess). Boogie wakes up at least once, usually two-three times every night just wanting to snuggle and have the occasional small snack.  Those nighttime screams are the worst, so loud and so sad!  I'm not sure anyone on P. Eddie Street is getting any sleep right now! He was taking two, good 2-2.5 hour naps and a short evening cat nap...now....we're lucky to get a couple 30 minute naps. It breaks my heart; I wish those stinkin' teeth would just break through already!! It makes ME want to cry just thinking about it.....alright, on to the happy stuff!!

It's been an exciting week of firsts!  Boogie is now officially mobile! He has been rolling from tummy to back since he was 1 month, but he has now mastered rolling from back to tummy and, occasionally, will attempt the complete log roll (back to tummy to back, repeat!). I have yet to capture it on film so keep you eyes peeled, those pictures/videos, I hope, are soon to come.

Last Saturday, we took our first family outting to Deanna Rose Farmstead. We were on a pumpkin finding mission! Boogie encountered a lot of new animal friends along the way....he wasn't too sure about the goats...

 

Boogie got to take his first hayride!!

Finally, we reached the pumpkin patch.  He studied that pumpkin for awhile, trying to figure out exactly what it was....

 

Also, this week, Boogie got to meet Sluggerrr!!! Again, he wasn't too sure...

We also had Boogie's 3 month photo shoot with capturedinHisimage photography at Stagecoach Park....can't wait to see how they turned out!! 

Hopefully, my sweet baby will get through this painful stage soon and we can move on to a lot more happy times.  This week has definitely been full of ups & downs...

great advice...

I don't have any pieces of great advice to share, but a dear friend does! These are great tips to use as parents, friends, coworkers and any other relationship in life. Please check out her blog!!
Sweet Peas & Sassafras: Building Stronger Relationships.

little charmer...

This past weekend was my 10 year high school reunion....yes, I'm that old.  We decided to use this as an opportunity to make the trip to Chicago so Boogie could meet mommy's side of the family.  Of course, this meant a 10 hour (one way) ride in the car. As you can imagine, I was a little stressed in anticipation for this long journey with a 3 month old.  Yes, Boogie has always been great in the car and usually takes the opportunity to get in a little nap, but 10 hours!? I was prepared for the worst.

Now, I knew on a day-to-day basis, babies needed a lot of stuff, but it wasn't until I made the packing list that I realized just how much stuff they need. You'd think we were going on a summer long adventure across the country....pack 'n play, bathtub, swing, diapers, clothes, extra clothes (in case of those dreaded poopsplosions), boppy, toys, and the list goes on!

It finally came time to get everything in the car and hit the road. And can I say, Boogie did awesome! He ate at his regular times, took naps at his normal nap times, and laughed with mommy in the back seat.  Sure, he had a few short freak-outs, but mommy did too. I mean, stuck in the backseat of a car for 10 hours?! Who wouldn't get a little crabby??

Hanging out in the car

On Saturday, my mom hosted an open house in honor of Boogie. Old friends and family came by to meet the little man.  Again, he did awesome!  He smiled and entertained everyone, though, he did take one short nap to recharge in the middle of the party...

But, for the most part, the whole weekend he was my little charmer...

i'm a lucky girl...

Two years ago today J and I said "I do" (actually, I think we said "I will," but that's just details). At the beginning of our ceremony our officiant asked our guests to stand and answer the question "Will you who are present today, surround J and C in love, offering them the joys of your friendship and support them in their marriage?" I have to take this moment to say...you have all kept up your end of the bargain! Thank you so much for loving and supporting us through the last two years. You are the best family and friends anyone could ask for.

Next, of course, came our vows. When putting our ceremony together, we knew we didn't want to use the traditional wedding vows.  We searched and searched for the perfect promise, but couldn't find it. We finally decided to piece together things from a variety of sources to create exactly what we wanted to say. This is what we promised two years ago...

"To live with you and laugh with you

To stand by your side and sleep in your arms

I promise to love you, to respect and support you and to be your best friend

I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you"

So, I would like to take this moment to thank my wonderful hubby.  Thank you for keeping your promise and more. I knew the "laugh with you" part would be easy for you, but thank you for still making me laugh everyday.  Thank you for understanding that the "sleep in your arms" part was more metaphorical for me as I can't stand to have someone touching me when I'm trying to sleep :) Thank you for loving me more than I could ever ask for and for helping me love myself.  Thank you for standing by my side and respecting and supporting me as a person and now as a mother. You have been an outstanding husband and now a terrific father.  Both Boogie and I are blessed to have you.  I hope that I have been able to keep my promise to you.  I strive everyday to be the best wife, friend and supporter I can be. You are still, and will always be, my best friend and I do look forward to spending the rest of our lives together. I truly love you more than you will ever know....I'm a lucky girl...

they change so much...

Yes, Boogie is 3 months old today!  I'll say it now as I'm sure I'll say a million times....where has the time gone?! My tiny little newborn has suddenly turned into a little boy. His personality comes out more and more everyday and he has this new, ornery little smile that makes me nervous for the years to come :)

He also has figured out that he has mommy wrapped around his little finger (ie: he can act like a little booger then flash that big smile and mommy forgets all about it) For example, he decided to wake up at 5am this morning.  (This is really out of character for him as he has been sleeping till 8am for the past two months.) He didn't really want anything particular, we cuddled, he comfort nursed and he grouched.  I finally decided to just try and put him back to bed. As soon as I layed him down that big sweet smile came across his face along with a little giggle. I suddenly forgot that it was, now, 5:45am....what a little booger...

Boogie has another new trick.  He is trying really, really hard to sit up all by himself. He will grab onto my fingers and use his not-so-bulging biceps to pull himself up to seated. He just smiles and laughs as he looks around from this new perspective, it's like a whole new world from up there....Yesterday, Boogie was propped up in his boppy.  I noticed he kept making this grunting noise accompanied with a look of intensity on his face.  My first thought: must be gas....but then I realized what he was doing. He was contracting his not-so-rock-hard abs trying to pull himself up to seated. Then, all of a sudden, the hard work paid off.  He pulled himself away from the boppy and up to a seated position....well, kind of....he basically pulled his whole body away from the boppy only to flop right back down. BUT, in that split second, there was this look of pure happiness and accomplishment on his face.  I could just read the thoughts that flashed through his mind in that split second..."IdiditlookatmemomI'msittingupIdidit!!!" It made me laugh and cry at the same time....my little baby is growing so fast!

On this fall day, Boogie got dressed up in his jeans and plaid cowboy jacket for his 3 month pictures. ( Not sure why he looks so serious in all of them.)  Looking back to pictures from his first days home its crazy how in 3 short months they change so much...

snuggle-saurus

I don't know if it's the teething or just a new stage, but my independent baby has become a snuggle-saurus. As I mentioned last week, he has been a "self-soother" for a long time.  Anytime we would try to snuggle or rock him to sleep it just made him more upset.  He would kick and throw himself around and scream.  He's never liked the feeling of being 'confined' I guess (since day one, he would ALWAYS bust out of the swaddle)...

That's when I made, what I would consider, an UN-selfish decision of letting him soothe himself to sleep.  He would fuss for awhile, but never scream and yell like he did when we tried the rocking/bouncing thing. I had come to terms with the fact that, when it came to sleepy time, he just wasn't the snuggle-type (kinda like his momma, I can't stand to have anyone touching me when I'm trying to sleep)....
BUT, for the past few days when putting him down for naps/bedtime he's been a grouchy pants. For now, he enjoys rocking in our new glider (BEST craiglist purchase ever BTW). He still doesn't like to be "held," but rather just lay on mommy till he dozes off to dreamland.  I'm sad because Boogie is upset and possibly in pain from the teething, but I'm enjoying my little snuggle-saurus :)

i hate the dentist...

So my mommy instincts tell me Boogie is definitely teething.  Yes, I know, most of the literature says first tooth comes at about six months and yes Boogies is barely three....BUT I have also found literature that says the teething process can start a few months before a tooth actually appears. For the past 3-4 days my sweet baby has not been happy....

He's been grouchy and clingy, drooling like a mad man, chewing on anything he can manuever into his tiny little mouth and LOVES when mommy massages his gums.

This got me thinking about the dreaded day I will have to take him to the dentist for the first time....scratch that, when DADDY will take him to the dentist for the first time because i hate the dentist!! 

It all started when I was about 6 years old and they had to gas me to pull a tooth....and then all the yanking and cranking with the braces.....and then the complete knock me out, dig 'em out with the wisdom teeth....not to mention all the choking on my own spit, picking and drilling and pain that comes with a routine cleaning or filling....oh, I'm getting the shakes just typing about it.....

About a month ago, I was at the dentist getting said filling, and in the chair next to me was this sweet looking, about 9 year old boy.  While I was waiting for the numbing meds to set it before the big picks and drills came my way....the dentist decided to perform a simple exam on this sweet, little boy.....As soon as dentist put his fingers in this SWEET, little boy's mouth.....SWEET little boy let out the most horrific scream I've ever heard....you would think the dentist was ripping out his teeth with no anesthetic! The staff tried to calm the boy, but he just kept screaming "it hurts, it hurts, it hurts!" The dentist didn't even have any tools in there, just fingers.  I could see it in the eyes of the staff and other on lookers that they thought this boy was off his rocker....

But, all I could think was....."AMEN, little boy!! My feelings exactly!"......

So, yes, DADDY will have to take the parenting role when it comes to the dentist.  I can't handle the choking, picking, drilling on myself let alone watch my sweet little boy feel that pain and discomfort....I HATE THE DENTIST!!!

it works for us, deal with it...

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm a planner.  I like to know exactly what the plan is at all times, not really a "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of girl.  So, you can imagine, those first couple weeks with a newbown were highly stressful for me.  Boogie didn't seem to have any sort of schedule, eating normally about every three hours, but cluster feeding all the time as well. Sometimes sleeping for 4 hour stretches and other times not sleeping for more than 30 minutes. After about 3 weeks of chaos and no "plan" I was going crazy.

All I was reading everywhere on websites, message boards and blogs was "you cannot sleep train a newborn," and "do not let them CIO (cry it out) before 3 months of age." But I was desperate. I went to Borders and stood in front of the newborn/baby care section for an hour.  I found the book "The Baby Sleeps Tonight." It stood out because it was short and easy to read and had actual schedules (ie: feed at this time, sleep at this time, etc) instead of just theories and ideas like the other books did.

The day Boogie turned 3 weeks old was the day we started TBSTP ("The Baby Sleeps Tonight Plan").  It was an instant miracle. The first night Boogie slept for 6 hours...straight! It's only gotten better and better as we have progressed though TBSTP.  Not only was I a happier mommy because I was finally getting some sleep and some order to my day, but Boogie was a totally different baby...he was happy...all the time!

So now Boogie is 2.5 months old and we have reached what TBSTP calls our "ultimate schedule."  It's the same everyday:

8am wake and eat
9:30am nap time
12pm wake and eat
1:30pm naptime
3:30pm wake and eat
~5-6pm naptime
6:30pm eat
8-8:30pm maybe a quick catnap
8:30/9pm start our bedtime routine of bath and feeding for a 9:30/10pm bedtime (we're gradually starting to move this up earlier and earlier)

Not only does this help me with being able to plan activities, it keeps Boogie happy.  This plan allows me to stay ahead of his needs.  This is key in building trust; Boogie knows I'll be there to feed him when he's hungry or put him to sleep before he's overly tired and grouchy. I know exactly what's wrong when he gets crabby.  It's helped build a great relationship between mommy and baby.

I used to try to help him fall asleep.  We'd rock, bounce, walk, sing and it just made him crabbier and crabbier.  He would start fighting to fall asleep and then become overly tired.  One day, when he was about 1 month old,  I said to myself, "I think this is just making it worse." So, I decided, when it's naptime/bedtime I'm just going to put him in his bed, turn on the mobile and some music and walk away.  This is now our routine every time.  He usually whines and fusses, sometimes for 10 minutes, but he eventually drifts off to sleep. If this means I'm letting him CIO, then I let my baby CIO...deal with it.  If ever he is truly screaming-type crying I go in and interveen, but that doesn't happen often.  He has learned to self soothe.  He puts himself to sleep.  If he wakes up/is woken up before it's time to get up, he can put himself back to sleep (sometime with the help of some more music/mobile action).  He sleeps better and longer now, and wakes up happy.

So, when my baby was about 1.5 months old he was sleep trained and self soothing or CIO if that's what you want to call it.  He's happy, healthy and growing like a weed.  I'm sure there's plenty of people out there who disagree with our tactics but it works for us, deal with it!

always remember...

Growing up it seemed like the "old people" always had an event in history where they remembered exactly where they were and what they were doing in that moment. I never thought that I would feel like part of history that way, until 9/11/01.

I was in my second year of college (first year at KU) and living in Oliver Hall. I was sleepily getting ready to walk out the door for my early morning class when my phone rang.  It was my mom, she knew better than to call me that early. She said "turn on the TV," in a very urgent tone. Still half asleep, I fumbled for the remote and turned on the TV.  All I saw was a couple of tall buildings with some smoke coming out of the windows. In that moment, I was too focused on getting to class on time that I rushed off the phone and out the door without actually realizing what was going on.  When I got to class, only a couple of people had heard anything about the event.  At that time, we all just thought it was a simple airplane accident and one girl even said "yeah, I heard 5 people died." Even though that would be a tragedy in itself, it wasn't startling enough to worry about that early in the morning and we proceeded on with class.  Little did we know the true terror that was unfolding. The moment I returned to the dorm, I knew something wasn't right.  What was normally a loud and crazy building with people buzzing about everywhere, was now eerily quiet.  As a walked back to my room I passed room after room filled with my dorm mates silently crowded around their TVs, some crying, but most with jaws open in shock. I remember returning to my room, turning on the TV and just starring at the screen for what seemed like hours. 

The next few weeks around the dorm were the same, people crowded in rooms starring at TV screens and crying on each others shoulders.  Thats when I realized that I have become a part of history, that I will always remember exactly where I was, exactly what I was doing in this moment....

i blame it on the hormones...

As Boogie is moving through his 3rd month of life, it's been neat to see his little personality emerging.  It's been making me think about and wonder who he's going to be.  What traits and habits will he get from me, which ones will he get from J? Then, yesterday evening, as I was on my way to work (having another emotional breakdown about leaving my darling baby at home), I heard this song for the first time....

"Anything Like Me" By: Brad Paisley

"I remember saying I don't care either way
Just as long as he or she is healthy I'm ok
Then the doctor pointed to the corner of the screen
And said "You see that thing right there well you know what that means"

And I started wondering who he was going to be
And I thought heaven help us if he's anything like me
He'll probably climb a tree too tall and ride hes bike to fast
End up every summer wearing something in a cast
He's gonna throw a ball and break some glass in a window down the street
He's gonna get in trouble oh he's gonna get in fights
I'm gonna lose my temper and some sleep
It's safe to say that I'm gonna get my payback if he's anything like me

I can see him right now knees all skinned up
With a magnifying glass trying to melt a Tonka truck
Won't he be a sight with his football helmet on
That'll be his first love til his first love comes along
He'll get his heart broke by the time he's in his teens
And heaven help him if he's anything like me

He'll probably stay out too late and drive his car too fast
Get a speeding ticket he'll pay for mowing grass
He's gonna get caught skipping class and be grounded for a week
He's gonna get in trouble we're gonna get in fights
I'm gonna lose my temper and some sleep
It's safe to say that I'm gonna get my payback if he's anything like me

He's gonna love me and hate me along the way
Years are gonna fly by I already dread the day
He's gonna hug his momma, he's gonna shake my hand
He's gonna act like he cant wait to leave
But as he drives out he'll cry his eyes out
If he's anything like me there's worse folks to be like
Aw he'll be alright if he's anything like me"

As you can image, this didn't help with the waterworks! I know things won't be perfect, we'll have our bumps and he'll we'll make mistakes, but I just hope we can raise him to be happy, to appreciate the world around him and to love and accept people for who they are. And if he's anything like his daddy, then he's going to be a pretty great man.

Yes, motherhood has turned me into a sappy, mushy mess who cries as much as the baby....I blame it on the hormones...

Poopsplosion....

I'm here to rant and rave to the diaper companies about the natural disaster, the poosplosion! I've seen it blogged about and talked about on message boards so I know it's a wide spread problem and you moms of little ones know what I'm talking about.  For those of you who don't, poopslosion is exactly what it sounds like....an explosion of yellow, seedy, sticky baby poo!  It comes out the legs holes and even up the back and out the top of the diaper.  I usually like to include pictures in all my blogs, but I'll spare you the visuals this time...

We've tried every combination of brand and size of diapers and none seem to be able to contain the poopslplosion. So my question is why haven't these diaper makers figured this out yet?! There's got to be some creative invention these diaper engineers can come up with to contain this phenomenon; I don't know what it would be, I'm no engineer. 

The brand that seems to have figured it out the best so far is the Up & Up brand by Target.  Maybe its just the way they fit Boogie's long torso (inherited from mom) and tiny butt (definitely not inhertited from mom) that they are able to create a pocket enclosure for the poop.  We've still had poopsplosions with this brand, just much fewer. 

So, to you experienced mommies out there....any advice??

I will share the one piece of advice I have on this issue for any soon-to-be mommies out there.  Always keep an easy-to-wash blanket (ie: receiving blanket) between baby and any other surface.  After cleaning clothing, couches, bedding, etc...I've learned this one the hard way.

If they can figure out how to cap a major oil spill, they've got to be able to figure out how to cap the poosplosion!

Olathe: The Windy City

Since we didn't make it down to the lake for Labor Day weekend, we thought we'd at least go have a wonderful family day in the park.  The plan was picnic and family pictures by the beautiful fountains and trees in Stagecoach Park in Olathe. We got delicious subs and pasta from the good ole Mr. Goodcents and headed across the street to the park.  There were some locals playing drums and bongos in the picnic shelter, really random, but made for some good background music. We spread out the blanket by the water and snuggled in for our happy family picnic. There were a few other people fishing by the pond, but for the most part, we had the park to ourselves. We soon found out why the park was so deserted....Well, apparently Olathe is now The Windy City.  The crazy wind kind of ruined our plans and cut our outting short.  We did get a few good pics though....

Boogie was a little jealous of the yummy food daddy had

Oh! That lip gets me every time!!

Boogie started to get grouchy and sleepy

And he was passed out by the time we got back to the car.

There are some really cool fountains and trees in this park so hopefully we'll get back there when it's not so windy to get some more family pics!