a deal and a suit.

What I love is a good deal.

What I don't love is a swimsuit.

I am in the middle of the great summer battle - one-piece or two? Tankini?


At what age is a bikini no longer appropriate?

If Trey and I are on the beach somewhere (let's pretend, for a second, that I am at Seaside right now), I would happily sport a bikini.

But other times? Swim lessons with the 2 year old?

Not to mention my husband's career.  Swim get-togethers are sure to be in my future. 

A bikini? Not sure that's totally appropriate in his line of work.

So, I am on the quest for a cute one-piece. 

Yack.  I hate how I look in a one-piece.  But what's a motha to do?

I have pinned a few fashionable choices, but this frugal girl can't justify spending oodles for a swimsuit. 

Call me cheap.  I like to call it financially savvy.


Anyway, I get a daily email with coupons and online deals. 

In today's email, I noticed that Target was having a one-day online sale (plus free shipping.....the only way  I will buy online) on a couple of one-piece bathing suits.

I totally bought one. 

For $15. 

I hope it's not total crap.  A $15 swimsuit has everything going for it to be total crap.

 I will let you know. 

But in the meantime, if you are out there searching for a deal, you may want to check it out. 

Here is the one I picked out:

Cute? I hope so.

Here's to swimming in your mothering years....

Keeping it Real Friday

Did you miss me last Friday?

I was keeping it real, just not on the blog.

Here is a real picture taken last week, moments before I was late for work. Consider this last week's installment of KIRF.

For this week's keeping it real, I want to talk about the recent comment made towards Ann Romney by Hilary Rosen.


Don't worry, this has nothing to do with politics.


But I do have comments on her comment suggesting that being a full-time mom is not work at all. Although she apologized for her poorly chosen words, it was far too late to prevent lighting a fire in the ongoing faux battle between stay-at-home moms vs. working moms on this here Internet.

For what it's worth, here are my two cents:




I have been both. One was a decision made by choice, the other was a decision made out of necessity.




When I was pregnant, Trey and I weighed both options heavily before we decided that we would be able to make the necessary financial sacrifices in order for me to stay home with Jones from the beginning. He knew how important it was to me and, still to this day, I can't thank him enough for believing with me in that importance.

But let me state this first keeping it real fact: it was, indeed, a financial sacrifice. I don't care how much money you make or how much your spouse makes, eliminating one salary plus adding another (small and expensive) human into the equation requires some changes, be it big or small. We cut out unnecessary expenses and learned to live on less. Does this mean we went without? No. We were comfortable, happy and blessed. But it does mean that we didn't always have the latest and greatest thing and I became comfortable wearing last years trends. And I have since learned how to clip coupons.




But let's put finances aside, because let's be honest: that's not what her statement implied. I seriously doubt the Romney family sacrificed much in terms of finances. Sure, they would have been making even more money if she chose to work outside the home, but come on: he is a presidential candidate. Regardless of which side of the political fence you sit, if you are running, you have money. Lots of it.

I digress...

Being a full-time mom is hard. Very, very hard.

Leaving your child with someone else to work 8 hours outside of the home all while still being a mother is hard. Very, very hard.

In the beginning, when I was nursing all day, I thought I would surely die before I got the chance to shower again. I was scared to leave him alone for fear that, of course, he would not be able to go on living without me right beside him. So naturally I found myself more times than I would like to admit on the toilet while nursing an infant.

Keeping it real, people.

You are tired. There are no sick days. No vacation days. And there were days that I was jealous of Trey's lone car ride to work. He could sit in silence! No crying baby! No swollen breast from needing to nurse! And he gets to stop at a red light for more than two seconds without having a sleeping baby wake up screaming due to sudden lack of movement? The sheer luxury!

Then I would feel guilty for even thinking those things.

Which brings me to the next point: Guilt.

Mommy guilt is the real deal. I can't speak for other moms, but for this one: it is legit.

Being a full-time mom, I sometimes had guilt that I was not working. Working full-time now and I have guilt that I am not home. Guilt for thinking you need to work. Guilt for working. Guilt for wanting things. Guilt for not bringing in money. Guilt for letting your infant cry in the crib while you are face down crying from pure exhaustion. Guilt for not spending time with your husband. Guilt for not making time for your friends. Guilt for not sewing. Guilt for not cooking. Guilt for having to leave your child while you travel for work. Guilt for missing his party at school because of a work meeting. Guilt for sending your somewhat sick child to school because you have no leave time.

GUILT. GUILT. GUILT.

It is nasty.

I have been a full-time mommy and I have been a mom who works outside of the home full-time trying to also be a full-time mom. How can I ever say that I am not a full-time mom? No, I don't stay home with him anymore, but he is still my first and most important job and he is never far from my mind.

They are both hard. They both have their gives and takes. They both have their good days and they both have their days where I want to go to bed and never do this again. They both require a great deal of balance.

And this is coming from a mom with only one child.

Yet, I love it. I love being a mom. And, even though I still vaguely remember those sleepless nights the first few days (months...), I want to one day do it all over again. And I know, that if blessed with another, I may have to leave my next child earlier this time.

Someone who has never left their job and salary by choice to stay home with their child shouldn't be allowed to judge or even pretend to know what it is like to do so. It is hard work.

And someone who has had the privilege to stay home and never had to leave their child in the care of another shouldn't be allowed to judge or even pretend to know what that is like. It is hard work.

Both are wonderful at times. Both suck at times.

And I have never had to leave an infant with a caregiver, Jones was 18 months before I went back to work. So I must never pretend I know how hard that must be.

So let's please don't judge. Or make assumptions. Or feel guilty that we are not doing something right.

I don't know what the next mom's life is like and, although I keep it pretty real, you don't know everything about mine.

But I would like to think that all of us moms are just trying to do our best with what has been given to us. Make the best of what's around, you know?

And, finally, Happy Friday.



Hip Hip for the weekend!!

Keeping it real Fridays

I would like to provide a little insight, for those who may be unaware, of what eating out is like with a toddler.


Trey and I usually only brave Mexican restaurants with Jones. I think the reasons why are obvious.


Last night we went after work to grab a quick bite to eat.

To set the scene, Jones was in his "accident" clothes when Trey picked him up from school. And that was still what he was in when I met them for dinner. The shirt, a fine play shirt, has long sleeves and is a bit too snug. What you can't see are his pants. Blue jeans, which he has only worn twice in his life. The blue jeans that were in his extra clothes at school were, unbeknown st to me, way too small. And way too short. And apparently his socks were also wet from the accident, so he had on tube socks. With high water pants.

Trey saw no reason to change his clothes before we met for dinner.


A few of Jones' favorite activities at the fiesta:

- Taking chips out of the basket one by one and then putting the empty chip basket on his head declaring "hat!". then proceed to yell in a sing-songy voice "hat hat hat hat" over and over.


- Emptying out every last item of food we brought from home onto the table and floor. Each time one hit the floor he would shout "uh-oh" as if he were totally shocked food was emptying the container.



Trey's look throughout the meal:

We usually eat and clean up as quickly as possible before apologizing for the mess to the waitress and leaving a good tip.

Sweet boy. How life has changed. Would not trade it for the world.

Keepin' it real Friday

Happy Friday to you! I don't know about you but I, for one, am glad to see this day come. Onward to the weekend!

Today I want to keep it real by sharing some things with all you bloggers.

Before I was a mom, I had plenty of "I will never...", "my child will or will not..." blah, blah, blah.

Guess what? I am eating my words. Everyday. And that is ok. Jones is happy and healthy, and that is the most important thing, no?

Here are a few of my pre-mom crimes I have committed just in the past week:

1) My child will never ride in one of those disgusting cars/carts at the grocery store.
FALSE. My child will. And will love it. And I will be able to get in and out of the store without Jones having a giant-size toddler meltdown or me having to chase a very active boy around the store. Or both.



2) I will never. EVER. bribe my child. What parent would do that?

Pa-lease. This parent would. Just yesterday I used a juice box to coaxed Jones into getting in the stroller after work so I could go for a mini-jog. Worked like a charm and we were both happy. Win-win.

3)My child will love all vegetables and will happily eat whatever I lovingly prepare for the family.
What fantasy was I living in? First of all, I have yet to conquer this preparing a meal for our family gig. Now that I work, we are lucky to have a cooked meal two times a week. Secondly, my child hates all vegetables and meat. So guess what? He eats cheese, fruit and yogurt at almost every meal.

4)TV? Whatever. Not until he is at least 2, and even then no more than 15 minutes a day.
Trey leaves for work around 6:30. Which means I am left alone in the morning with Jones to get both of us ready for school and work. (Props to all of you single parents out there. You are my hero). We both need to be somewhat presentable and without tears (noticeable tears, at least) and out the door by 7:25. The TV has saved me many a times. I can either chase him around the house, scoop shoes and toys out of the toilet, come into the kitchen to find the pantry items covering the floor all while trying to clean my teeth OR I can put on a DVD and brush my teeth in peace.



5) I am not buying into all that cartoon character memorablia crap.
Jones has discovered Elmo. And there is no turning back. Give him his plush Elmo or give him death.

I read an article this week about pre-mom judging. I am guilty. I even was a stay-at-home mom judger (yes, it is a word. On this blog, at least) of working moms. Why would you put your kid in daycare?! Make sacrifices for the sake of your kids, people!! Sorry, moms out there. I was wrong.

We are all just doing our best in this scary thing. Nobody has it all together and we all feel like we totally suck at mothering at times. Good days/bad days. We all have them.

No judgement here, people. Do what works for you and let's all just be happy.

That's me keepin' it real today.

Check out the great article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kara-gebhart-uhl/mom-judgments_b_1319775.html

Here is a picture of us from last weekend. We went on a date! First to the symphony, then out for drinks and appetizers. Cute boy. I like him.

Keeping it Real Friday

Wednesday night was not our best night. Which led to Thursday not being our best morning. By the time I got to work, I was about 1.5 seconds from breaking down. Like, ugly tears breaking down.

Jones' teacher called around 9:30 and said that he just wasn't acting like himself. She said she didn't think he was sick, but wanted me to know that he wasn't playing or smiling.

We needed a day.

So I walked into my boss' office and told him I needed a personal day and, thankfully, he told me to go home and have a wonderful day. I have the perfect job.

I went home, changed clothes, went for a jog, then went to get my baby. Jones and I went straight to the park and played for two hours.

By nap time, we both felt like new people.

So, yeah, I skipped work to play with my child. It was both unexpected and totally necessary.

Feb. meal planning

I have tried several different meal planning techniques since I started working full-time. Including not cooking at all.

I even signed up on an online meal planning website. They send you a meal plan and shopping list for each week. It is convenient and I recommend the site, but it just didn't work for our family. The problem I ran into was that I was not realistically cooking 6-7 times a week, I was spending more money on groceries each week than I would like, and the recipes often took longer to prepare and cook than I was willing to do.

Jones and I get home between 5:15 and 5:30 during the week. Jones immediately goes to his highchair and says "ee-ee-ee" (eat, eat, eat). I can sometimes get him distracted by playing with Trey while I cook, but the bottom line is the kid is hungry after school! So I needed fast - but healthy - meals with little prep.

I decided to make my own meal plan. I am only in the first week so I can't say it's perfect, but the past two nights have been easy - and tonight's dinner is already prepared.

I worked out a plan for two weeks, cooking three times a week. 3 times a week is a little more realistic for me. Plus, it gives us nights to eat leftovers, which we always have.

Trey and I made a commitment not to go get Mexican this month (we are trying to not eat out at all). We have found ourselves eating Mexican once a week- it's fast, yummy, and cheap. But it's not really healthy and we don't need to spend that money eating out.

Anyway, thought I would share the first two weeks of meal planning. I try to grocery shop on Sunday afternoons after I get coupons from that morning's paper.

It is nothing fancy or earth shattering and definitely not gourmet, but hopefully it will work for us.

Jones certainly enjoyed the yummy chicken soft tacos Monday night, which is success enough for me. I cut up avocado and grape tomatoes and he loved it! He is not a meat eater at all, but this chicken was so flavorful and tender, he ate it all. We had it for leftovers last night. Just as good.

Tonight we are having poppy seed chicken, which I prepared last night. All I have to do is put it in the oven and heat the green beans. Yay for low stress week nights.

Friday night we are having zucchini fries. I have to sneak vegetables not only in my toddler's meals, but also my husband's. Wish me luck!

Here are the links to some of the recipes I am trying:

http://pinterest.com/pin/237776055296085946/ - Weight Watcher slow cooker lasagna
http://pinterest.com/pin/237776055296097612/ - taco chicken
http://pinterest.com/pin/237776055296041670/ - fries
http://pinterest.com/pin/237776055295957804/ - crock pot french dip


What are some of your favorite easy weeknight meals? How do you quickly get healthy meals on the table? I would love to know!

case of the monday mornings

Only it's Wednesday.

And only I have it every morning.

I am not sure what I am in, but it is a major funk. I cry and/or get mad every. single. morning. on my way to work. As I type this, I realize I sound a bit unstable.

Once I am in my office and settled in, I am better. I am usually fine by 9:00.

I had a 7 am meeting this morning. After which I met with the dean of the college, my boss, around 8 am. She commented how perky I always am in the mornings and how put together I seem to be.

I almost simultaneously laughed, cried, and tee-teed on myself.

Put-together?

Let's recap, shall we?

1) I have on tights under my dress, but nothing else. Clean laundry is hard to come by at my house these days.

2) My hair is in a pony-tail because my child woke up at 5 am so I attempted to straighten my hair while in the kitchen reading him a story while he ate his cheerios.

3) I haven't eaten a meal since yesterday at lunch, unless you count the crust from Jones' grilled cheese sandwich last night
4) I am fairly confident I forgot to put on deodorant this morning

I appreciated the confidence boost, thanked her, and considered joining the local theatre; I was putting on some show here.

My mom reminded me this morning when I called her at 6:45 on my way to the meeting in tears, that this is normal. The working-mom part, not the overly sensitive psycho part. This too shall pass, my friends.

Jones got in the daycare we have been waiting on. He got on the waiting list the week we moved here and we found on Jan. 3 a spot came open and he got in! He could start the day after MLK day! In the words of Jones - YAY!

Only he got sick the Thursday before. Fever at school. Sent home. Fever lasted until Friday afternoon. Then it happen - he broke out. All over.

Yep - Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Or as I refer to it: Disgusting Disease Kids Get at Snotty-nose Daycares.

He's better now and started his new school this morning. Acording to Trey, he walked right in and started playing. Praise God! I know this to be true because, as all wives know, husbands sometimes tell you things you want to hear and I was not going to be played a fool. I called the director of the school and checked on things for myself. He told the truth! Jones walked in like he owned the place. Score one. Check that off the worry list.

It's hump-day and I am looking forward to dinner with fun friends tomorrow night. What gets you through the day?

I am not wonder woman. I need suggestions

I am a working mom now. It's fine. I really like my job - it's a great fit for me. And I work for the greatest institution known to man that also allows me to have off two weeks at Christmas. The perks are good. And I am slowly learning how not to cry from the drop off at daycare to my office at work.

But there are a few things about my new role that I can't seem to figure out.

Let me explain.

I like to run. I enjoy it. It is my me time. Before our abrupt move to our new town, I was in the middle of training for a half-marathon. When we moved here and our lives were turned upside down, that training fell to the way-side.

When I was a stay at home mom, I found making time to run simple. I had a running partner that would meet me at 5:30 to run a few mornings a week. I would get back home in time for Trey to leave for work at 6:45 and then Jones would wake up at 7:00. I would have time to jump in the shower before Jones woke up. But I didn't have to worry about getting fully dressed for a job and having both me and Jones looking somewhat presentable, fed, happy and out the door by 7:30 for work and school. That schedule just wouldn't work now. Especially since Trey leaves for work even earlier now. There are not enough hours in the morning.

Let me stop you before you mention the unmentionable. Do not tell me to wake up before 5 to run every morning. It just won't happen. Not with me running alone. I won't do it. And there is no need for me saying I will do this, only to not then in return feel like a failure.

My other simple option of running while I was a SAHM was to put Jones in a jogging stroller after breakfast and go. Jones loved it. It was nice. This is, for obvious reasons, not an option now. At least not during the weekdays.

I would run my long-runs on the weekends.

And finally, my last running time was when Trey got home for work. I had been with my little man all day and I felt no guilt taking an hour or so to myself and running alone. This is the one I am struggling with now. By the time I get home from work, it is 5:30. I have seen my child for a total of about 45 minutes all day. I refuse to leave him again to go run. It is just not that important to me. I miss my child all. day. long and being without him for one more minute is just not going to happen.

So this leaves me with my last option - running after he goes to bed. He usually is asleep by 7:30, so this seems like the most realistic option.

By the time he is asleep, I am changed and ready to go, it is 8:00. This does not take in consideration anything I need to do around the house, dishes that need to be put away after dinner (if, in fact, I cooked dinner. Let's not be mislead, this does not always happen) clothes folded, etc. And what about my time with my husband? I have seen him even less than my child during the day. At least I get to take my child to and from school. Car time = quality time these days.

So sometimes I run and sometimes I want to cry and sink into the couch with Trey and watch Friday Night Lights on DVD. (Clear eyes. Full hearts.)

And then the cycle repeats itself - saying I am going to run at 8 or 8:30, not running, going to bed, feel like a failure.

I am running this half in April (I was thisclose last year before chaos ensued) so I need suggestions. How do I juggle it all? Maybe it will get easier when he is older and stays up later? Maybe I should do the unimaginable and wake up at 4 to run? (please oh please don't be the answer) Maybe it will get easier when it doesn't get dark at 5:30?

I know working moms run. A lot. So how? When? I see moms with multiple kids and high-stress jobs doing a lot more than me. I am not sure about this working mom thing, but I am doing what I have to do so I am determined to make it work.

one for the books

Jones and I spent the night away from each other. Three actually! Do you know me? This is a big deal. I have a bit of an obsessive/paranoid nature. This used to not be the case, but my mother instincts are a bit much. At any rate, we did it. My sister's 30th birthday party was planned months ago, so I knew Jones needed to be on a sippy cup by the time I left. My child never took a bottle of anything, so I thought it would be an uphill battle. It wasn't! He was perfectly OK with my milk in a cup. I was the weak one, not him. But with me out of town for three days, he had no choice but to take the cup. And he was perfect. What a relief. He slept great, ate great and played hard. And since I knew he was with Trey and my mom, I was able to relax and have fun. Can't thank those two enough!

So in my opinion, this trip was one for the books in many ways. Yay Jones and the sippy cup!

no, no, no?

In a matter of one week my child has mastered opening the fully closed pocket door to enter our bathroom and has discovered that splashing both hands in Sophie's water bowl is loads of fun.

While this is entertaining for my almost 10 month old, the combination of these two new discoveries has kept me on my toes. The little booger is fast. And he is very proud of his accomplishments.

Trey thinks he is old enough to understand the word "no". I am not so sure. But to make my husband happy - and to prove him wrong - I have been telling Jones no when he takes off at full speed towards the dog bowl.


Jones thinks "no" is one of the funniest things he has ever heard. He just laughs and then crawls faster and splashes the water harder. Now, a couple of weeks into the No Stage, Jones crawls towards the water bowl, stops, looks back at me, shakes his head no, then proceeds to splash the water.

I think that is a step in the right direction. Trey says he knows what he is doing and has outsmarted me. I think he is brilliant for being able to sign "no".

Baby steps, people. We will master discipline one day at a time.

Now for some cute pictures of recent happenings:

1. Jones' friend, Hayes, and his mama, Hope, came over for Valentine craft time one day last week. Have you tried to paint with a 1 year old and a 9 month old? Clearly I was not cut out to be a preschool teacher. There are no pictures of me and Jones. We were far too busy being covered in red paint to have our picture taken.
On a different note, we are so thankful Hope and Hayes moved to the coast! Wonderful friends already.

2. Jones had a cold (again) last week. Woke up Sunday in a great mood feeling fabulous but by the time we picked him up from the nursery at church he had 102 fever. Ugh. Hurry up spring.

Sunday sick day? I thought snuggling on the couch (in Christmas PJs) while watching a Disney movie was in order. Jones is not a TV watcher - much too busy to sit still - but he did sit for about 10 minutes and watched Aladdin. It was fun. My snotty nose snuggle man.

3. Hope, Hayes, Jones and I joined Kindermusik. It is so much fun and Jones seems to really get into the egg shaker. Here are some pictures from Kindermusik last week. I promise Jones' outfit is not that short on him. A bit high rising in these pictures.

4. And, finally, pictures from this morning at breakfast. Mealtimes are getting messier and messier. This morning he smashed an entire handful of bananas in his hair. Then died out laughing. Boys.

nine month stats

Jones' original 9 month well baby check up was last week but we had to postpone it until this week. Little man ran a fever on and off from Saturday to Saturday so I ended up taking him last Monday to make sure it wasn't anything more than a cold. It wasn't. Just a cold. Leave it to me, first time mom, to demand an RSV test after the flu test came back negative. In my defense, a lot of kids and babies have RSV right now. I needed to make sure. Since he had fever at the doctor's office on Monday and his well baby check up was scheduled for that Tuesday, she asked that we re-schedule for this week.

So here are his 9 month stats taken on Feb. 1:

Weight: 21 lbs. 12 oz - 75%
Height: 28 inches - 60%

As his doctor put it "We are back on the charts!!!". There for a little while (ahem...when he was 25 lbs. at 7 months...) he was off the charts. The Dr. just put 95% due to lack of options. Sweet chunk of love.

Trey and I laugh - he weighed 18 lbs 4 oz at 4 months. He has leveled out, I suppose!

He is perfectly healthy. Again, praise God! Everyday I am becoming more and more grateful and aware of how blessed we are.

The only minor thing she was concerned about were his feet. She is referring us to a Pediatric Orthopedic in New Orleans due to his feet turning completely out. We knew this was going to be an issue, she just wanted to wait until 9 months to see if would correct itself. I was really upset about this at first - the thought of Jones in a brace for a little while - but at the end of the day, that is his only issue. And it is so minor. Praise God that we have a healthy baby.

Here he is in all his chunky and wild hair glory waiting on the doctor to come in.

(sorry for the bad quality. It was taken on my phone.)

9 months, my man. We can't believe you have gotten so big so fast. I am not ready to let go of my baby, but am loving watching you grow each and everyday. You are the love of our life!

and all the angels sang

Good news on the sleeping front: we have succeeded in the no-nurse-night plan.

I have waited a while to post this, in fear of jinxing it, but it seems as though we have an all night sleeping baby now. He sleeps from 7 or 7:30 to about 6:30. Can I get an amen from the choir?

The first week was rough. The first night, as I posted, he cried for about 2 and 1/2 hours. Straight. It was a nightmare. But every night got better. Then one glorious night he slept until 5. He did that for about a week - waking up at 5 crying, then going back to sleep.

But now. Oh now, my friends. Now he sleeps 11 glorious hours without so much as a peep.

Ladies, still nursing your large baby through the night at almost 8 months? Stop it. I am a new woman. Last night I went to sleep at 8 and slept straight until 6 am. (minus the fifteen minutes I woke up at midnight because our music box Christmas ornament was playing. On it's on. Ghost of Christmas, perhaps?)

Him? Big? Me? Tired? Yes and Yes

I took Jones to the doctor today. For the past week or so I have noticed very dark, red circles under his eyes. Some days he looks like he has a black eye. Strangers always comment "Aww...it's nap time". No, it's not. Leave my kid alone.



Turns out he just has a cold. Minor stuff. Congestion, which explains the runny nose/stuffy nose none sense. Over the counter remedies and we are good.



That's not the problem.



Enter the scale: 25.2 lbs. Yes, that is right. He is 7 months old.



The doctor told me he was pretty large. No kidding, Sherlock. Check out my biceps. I know the babe is big.



Then she asked me a million dollar question: "Do you ever feed him in the middle of the night?"

Umm, yes. Sometimes more than once. He cries. He acts hungry. I feed him. He goes back to sleep. Sue me.



She then proceeded to tell me to never, ever again feed him in the middle of the night. He doesn't need it. He is just used to it. He is getting too many calories. And I deserve to sleep through the night. (I concur)



I told her that I do let him cry it out some, but then he cries himself in a corner, falls asleep off the sensor pad and sets off the alarm on the Angel Monitor. I run in, wake him up and we start the process all over again.



She told me there was one simple solution: get rid of the blankity-blank Angel Monitor and let him cry.(ok, no curse words were actually used, but I could feel her hatred for the thing)

So I am doing it. I did not turn on the monitor. He has been asleep for twenty minutes and I have already checked on him twice. I am such a freak.



That monitor has been a sore subject since day one. I think I hear that awful alarm during the day (while holding Jones at times. Ca-razy, I am.), I wake Trey up screaming that the alarm is going off, when clearly it is not and I can not handle when Laura's phone is about to die because it reminds me of the alarm noise.



I tell you again, I am nuts.



So wish me luck. Tonight I say goodbye to the motion/breathing monitor. We are going old school, readers. I am letting him cry it out. No more nursing in the middle of the night. No more middle of the night false alarm scares. No more crazy.



PS - Doctor? Are you a reader? If so, you should have told that girl in the waiting room feeding her twin 8 month old boys Frito chili pies from Checkers that she should stop. If I have to give up my middle of the night nursing rendezvous, then she should have to stop feeding her infants fast food.

past few days

Friday night Trey and I went on a much needed date to Halfshell. It was as wonderful as I remembered. It had been a while. Trey ordered desert, if you are wondering. Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding. Necessary? Absolutely not. Delicious? Absolutely.

Saturday morning I spent a couple of hours getting a pedicure and manicure thanks to a sweet, sweet friend. Heavenly. Coffee in one hand, sleezy gossip magazine in another while a man whose name I cannot pronounce massaged my legs with hot stones. Oh glorious day.

I chose You Don't Know Jacques! for both my nails and toes. It's a go-to color.

And I feel glam.

We took Jones to the park Saturday afternoon. A cold front came in this weekend. No fear. Jones came prepared:

We worked some more on Jones' playroom. Have I mentioned I live with a real life Handy Manny? Trey made this bookcase out of recycled wood. I love it. We are in the process of converting the sun room into his playroom. Rug has been ordered. Pictures of finished room soon.

In the meantime, I lay down a blanket on the hard floors for Jones to play on. It was made by Jones' great-great grandmother. Trey played on it as a child. I think Jones approves.

We finally got Jones a highchair. I was being picky. I really want a wooden antique one. But I want it to look a certain way. I have not had much luck with that. Well, Jones isn't getting any younger (or smaller) and that Bumbo seat eating was getting a little out of hand. So we opted for a space saver highchair, because, let's face it, we need to save space around here.

Jones pretty much loves it. He sat in it again tonight while Trey and I ate dinner. He just watched us. Big boy.

We've been having a great time - hope you have too!

rain, rain go away.

It rained hard this morning, much to my little man's disapproval. He prefers being outside at all times. In his perfect world, he and Sophie would stay outside all day long.

This morning we resorted to sitting and looking out the back glass door at the rain. He was as happy as a clam. And I was able to sit and drink a full cup of hot coffee - a simple pleasure that does not always happen around here.

update and 6 month pictures

The chest Xrays showed that Jones has viral pneumonia. I totally freaked out, but his sweet, precious, amazing pediatrician assured me that it was not as bad as it sounded. I think it sounds horrible. She has called to check on him (and me) several times. This combined with the fact that she ooos and ahhhs all over Jones everytime makes her the perfect pediatrician. I love her.

He started medicine a few days ago and is already back to himself. The past two nights have been back to normal...praise God! He still has a cough every now and then, but I can tell by looking in his eyes that he finally feels so much better. They seemed to think that all his ear infection last week was connected to this. Bless his heart. And I blamed it on hunger.

I am so thankful to have my happy (and good sleeping) baby back.

On to fun things...

We just got back from Mobile where we stayed with Tricia and Caleb last night. Tricia took his 6 month pictures this morning in Fairhope, AL. It was so much fun. But a smile from little man? Way too much to ask. The best word I can use to describe him is curious. Tricia gets that big camera out and the smile immediately fades and he becomes very, very serious. I think he is trying to figure it all out. The minute we finished the pictures, loaded up the camera, and put Jones in the car he flashed Tricia the biggest grin. I think he knew what he was doing all along.

But she is amazing and I know they are stunning even if, yet again, he refused to smile.

He did, however, smile at the Butts in general. He thought they were hilarious. Tricia and Caleb danced with him and he just laughed and laughed. Too bad we don't have those smiles on camera!

Thanks, Tricia - we had a great time. And maybe by his 9 month pictures he will have the whole camera mystery figured out and will flash you a big one!

Be sure to check out Tricia's photography - I have such talented friends! She took my maternity pictures and Jones' newborn, 3 month and now 6 month pictures. Looking forward to 9 month and 1 year photos!

No fun Wednesday

Well, last night wasn't any better. Worse, maybe. No fever, but couldn't sleep from coughing and sneezing. Well, let me rephrase that, he could sleep, but only when held. I am not good at sleeping with him. It makes me very nervous, so another sleepless night for me and Trey. Poor Trey offered to take the monitor and sleep in the guest bedroom so I could sleep. Which he did, but it didn't help too much. Have you been to our little rental? It's little. You can't escape a crying baby.

So we were at the doctor's office before the doors opened this morning. They did a flu and RSV test, which both came back negative. Then they sent us to the hospital for chest X-ray and blood work. I still haven't heard back from the chest X-ray, but the blood work came back fine except that it does show that he was anemic. Apparently this is pretty common, so that is not what is making him sick.

So as of now, he is sleeping. We raised one side of his mattress up, as the nurse on call last night at 2 am recommended. This means no motion monitor. I am a psycho about the motion/breathing monitor. I have a feeling I may be sleeping on the floor next to him.

As I said in a previous post, I am crazy. I confirm this suspicion daily.

Feel better, my main man. And fast!

Peas?

Ummm...Not so much.

My mom and I made batches of peas and butternut squash this weekend for Jones. I was so excited for him to try it. The ped recommended we do cereal mid-morning and a vegetable mid-afternoon. We tried peas last night for the first time and again tonight.

Disaster.

Hated it.

Tonight was even worse. He made horrible gagging sounds. I couldn't force them down! Maybe we will have better luck with the squash.

We will try the peas again tomorrow. I was told give it 3-5 days with each new food for him to become used to the texture and flavor.

But, in his defense, he is also not 100%. Poor thing did not take well to his vaccinations and flu shots. He was up all night last night (and thus, so were we!) with 102 degree fever. He is also suffering from a pretty bad cough. The nurse on call last night had me give him Tylenol every 4 hours through the night. He broke the fever around 4 this morning and has not had any today. But he is still not himself and not napping at all. If tonight is not better, we are heading back to the doctor in the morning.

Bless his heart...I am ready for him to be back to his happy self!

mmmmm....

For the past week or so, Jones has been waking up every three hours during the night. So unlike him. Checked for teething, check for earaches, let him try to cry it out, everything. But I knew what it was: big boy was hungry. He was acting like he was starving when I would finally go in there to check on him. I would end up nursing and he would go back to sleep immediately.

I talked to his doc and she said he is probably ready for more than just breast milk. I mean, he is a 20 pounder. Big boy gotta eat. I was trying to wait until 6 months to talk to her in person about feeding him. I am really nervous about it. (note: I am crazy) Guess I will be making baby food this week!

I mean, nursing is simple. He stops when he is full. I don't have to prepare anything or mess anything up. Fool proof. And I love it.

Anyway, I had several people (including my mom, who is all-knowing) suggest I put a little rice cereal in his last bottle of the day. So I have been doing that the past two nights.

Can I just throw in right here that I hate pumping? Is this too personal for a blog? Oh well. I hate it. Hate it.

But I have been doing it for the sake of a good night's rest. And it has worked beautifully.

Tonight, however, I messed it up. The cereal came out entirely too fast, resulting in cereal with milk, not the other way around. The bottle was a no-go. And I refused to pump again. So I feed him with a spoon.

I know you can't tell from this picture, but he L-O-V-Ed it. He looked at me as if I had been holding out on him for 6 months.

After he went to sleep, I went for a jog. During said jog I thought about the fact that I used a spoon and bowl to feed my baby. And I cried. (See note above.)

How can he already be this old?

Stop flying, time.

can I just say

how grateful I am that I have a husband who is more interested in doing all he can so I can stay home with Jones than he is in buying things for himself? He is never one for new clothes, toys or electronics. His fleeces from the 90's and Razr phone will do just fine for this guy. All he asks is for some time in the woods.

I can comply.

Thanks, Trey.

I am having the best time.

I love our life.