Summer Lovin..

As I sit here typing this we are having an amazing summer thunderstorm. I love them - the sound of the rain, the smell of it and most of all how it cools off the day. I actually have the windows open now! (We will see how long that lasts!)

Things are still the same around here. I am enjoying every exhausting minute with my little man. I cannot get enough of his cute smile and high shrilled shrieks. He hasn't figured out how to laugh yet, instead he just shrieks very loudly! It actually makes Rocky leave the room, poor thing.

I feel like this boy goes through a thousand outfits in a day! Between him throwing up or having a leak in his diaper! This boy can have a bowel movement with the best of them, let me towel you! I am sure it will only get better when he starts solid foods - oh boy!

Today, put on a cute outfit that my Aunt sent him. I wanted to make sure I got a picture of him in it to send to her. Even though it had long pants and a cute long sleeve shirt, I had to do it today because he is growing out of his three month things. Afterwards, I took off the pants and just let him play in the onesie. Not five minutes after I took the picture he had a major blowout. At least I got the picture. I then changed him into this outfit:
I just love little sleeveless outfits. They remind me of my Dad who, I swear, had stock in sleeveless shirts.

I took this video two weeks ago. He is finally rolling over. He does it very awkwardly in this video, but now he is much better at it. He just pops his head up, leans it to one side and rolls right over!

After watching this video, I realized I have become one of those people who sound like a complete idiot when they talk to their child. I vowed I would never do that, but alas, I have failed. It is amazing what you will do to get your kid to smile or do something that you want!

Busy Summer!

I haven't posted recently because really, there isn't too much to talk about around here! Summer is flying by WAY too fast and I know that I have been enjoying every minute of it. I have gotten back into running and I feel GREAT about it. I have worked back up to 1.5 miles without stopping. Thanks to Patrick's early morning wake ups these days, I head out around 7 and am finished in about 15 minutes. He loves going with me! He just sits contently in the jogger and looks around. He is such a good baby and we are so blessed.

I have spent many days by the pool (while Patrick is napping of course) or just lounging around the house. I have started teaching another online course for this Block, so I have also spent some time on the computer grading papers and what not! What an easy summer job! I teach and don't even have to go to class....love it!

On a more serious note, I really want to start making day trips with Patrick to the zoo and to the beach but they have been put on hold for awhile. Michael's grandfather has not been feeling quite right for awhile now, and he finally went to the hospital. After some tests they found a mass, and he is currently in surgery, but the Doc already suspects it is cancer. Say a prayer for us and Michael's family.

And because I can't end on a sad note, here is a picture of my little man during tummy time this morning. I just can't get enough of him!

I hope everyone else is having a happy and safe summer!

Twilight

When we found out I was pregnant, we were both so excited. The thought of dressing up a little boy or girl and decorating their room was so exciting to me (Maybe not to Michael, but he is a guy after all!). Then I actually started to think about all of the work involved: changing diapers, feeding at all hours and maybe never going out to eat again. I figured I could deal with most of these, but the second one: feeding at all hours, terrified me. For as long as I can remember, I am one grumpy person if I don't get my sleep. Ask my parents. Or my husband. They know when I am tired simply based on my attitude. I can't help it. I am a person who values my sleep.

Flash forward to the day Patrick was born. Since April 2, 2011 I have not slept through the night once. The first few weeks I didn't think I would be able to function. I started to hope that he would just go back to sleep when I heard him on the monitor, that's how tired I was. I started to resent my husband because he slept peacefully next to me as Patrick 'talked' on the monitor.

As those first few weeks turned into months, my attitude about those night feedings began to change. It was the only time that I was absolutely alone with my little boy. During the day we were constantly seeing visitors who always wanted to hold the baby, or try to give advice, or constantly ask if he was sleeping through the night. Although this visitors all meant well, I started to resent them as well. I felt like I was only there to feed him (I felt like a cow honestly) and everyone else just voiced opinions, or acted like they knew it all and got to hold him and have 'fun' with him.

Even though I had a juggling act to perform during the day and was exhausted by the time bedtime came, I soon realized that during the night I didn't have to worry about a schedule or making sure he would be in a 'good' mood for the next visitor. I didn't have to worry about someone stealing him away as soon as I was finished nursing or giving advice or asking questions. It was just Patrick and I. I could peacefully nurse my son without looking at the clock. I remember sitting in the glider just staring at him and being amazed that this little person grew inside of me.

No matter what time it was, every time I went to pick him up from his crib, he would smile at me. I would scoop him up and carry him to the changing table and then to the glider. He would nurse for around half an hour and I would sit and just stare, stroke his head or rub his back. When he was finished, he would lay back and contently smile in his sleep as I gently laid him back in the crib. Even though I knew he would be up again in probably an hour, I would spend at least five minutes just watching him.

Patrick still gets up around 3 in the morning for a midnight snack, and instead of dreading it, I actually look forward to it. He still gives me that smile when I walk in and is as happy to see me as I am to see him. I still feel like this time allows me to be the mother I want to be, if that makes sense. No one is rushing to steal him away from me, or asking about him sleeping or trying to give advice about maybe giving formula so he sleeps longer. I am simply content to nurse and spend some time with my son.

Am I still exhausted, yes, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Even though he will not remember this time when he is older, I know I will and I will forever be grateful for our quiet time together during those twilight hours before the rest of the world is awake.

Happy Fourth!

My how this summer has flown! I guess not working in the summer makes them even shorter. Now that the craziness of moving out of our house is over, we have been lounging around, enjoying our first summer as parents. We have some plans for the coming weeks including visiting the zoo. Yes, he is too young to know what is going on, but I will take plenty of pictures to remind him (and probably video too!)

I want to take this time to wish everyone a happy and SAFE fourth of July. As you celebrate with your families please take the time to remember those soldiers who are still away fighting for our freedom so everyone can celebrate back home. I know our family will be thinking of those who are still away and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. I thank God that my husband returned safely from Iraq and dread the day he has to leave again. He is absolutely my hero.

3 Months

Oh my how time flies! My little munchkin is three months old today. I can't believe it! He celebrated by waking up to nurse every two hours, how nice of him! Patrick is growing so much every week and I still can't believe that he grew inside of me. How amazing is that?!

Dear Patrick,

You are an absolutely amazing little boy. You continue to grow and amaze us every single day. This month was full of firsts. You slept through the night, from 10 until around 5am. Of course this hasn't happened every night, but you are sleeping very good. We moved out of your first house, you got your first pair of sunglasses, you went in the pool for the first time and loved every minute of it!

You are still nursing (I don't know if I am more proud of you or me for this feat!) about every two to three hours during the day, and you go about four to five hours at night. You are getting so big, I hope I can keep up with you before we introduce solids next month some time!

You are sleeping very well. You go down around 9 or 9:30 and sleep until 3:30 or a little later. You nurse and then go right back to sleep until 6 or 7. You are then wide awake and ready for the day! You still take two to three naps during the day, but they aren't as long as they use to be. You can sleep anywhere from an hour or two, but normally not more than that.

You have grown to absolutely love you jumper. You can spend hours in there if I let you probably. When you are held, all you want to do is stand. Your legs are really getting a work out! You still love your playmate and enjoy tummy time. You are pushing up more and more and are ALMOST rolling over. You have your hips there, but can't quite get your arms to work at the same time. I think it's only a matter of days before you figure this out though. You still aren't much for toys, but you do like this one little piano that plays music and lights up. You love lights and will stare whenever you see one, or a ceiling fan for that matter!

We don't have a Doctor's appointment this month so I am not positive how much you weigh or how long. Your Daddy and I did the best we could and our guess is you weigh around 13 pounds and are about 23 1/2 inches long. What a growing boy! You are still in size 1 diapers and in some 0-3 month clothing and some 3-6 month, depends on the brand! I am sure in another week you will be in all 3-6 months though!

Patrick, your Dad and I are so happy that you are in our lives. You are an amazing little boy and such a good baby. We couldn't ask for a more perfect blessing! I can't wait to see what you do this month!

Love,
Mommy

All Moved Out AND In!

Well, we are officially out of our first house. It was very bittersweet. I have to say, I have no idea how my husband did it all in almost three short days. I packed boxes, but he moved ALL of our furniture out and organized where everything was going to be stored. He is absolutely amazing, that's for sure. There is no way I would have been able to do it without him.

Sunday night was our last night in our house, and we were officially out yesterday. It was only fitting that we closed one chapter of our life, and opened another on our anniversary. Yesterday, Michael and I celebrated 4 years of marriage. It seems like yesterday we were saying our vows and then counting down the hours until our honeymoon. We went from a young couple who always had fun together and planned for the future together, to a little bit older couple (BUT STILL YOUNG) with an amazing baby and still waiting to see what the future holds.

Next week we will meet with our construction company to finalize our floor plan and start picking out things. How exciting! For now, we are settling in to my Mom and Pop's house and enjoying our summer and the pool.

BIG THINGS

So just when I thought I would get back into the swing of blogging, once again it will be disrupted. Our house was rented! We still have to sign the contract, but I am so sure of it I have started packing. That means that we will be moving in with my parents (gasp! - Don't worry, we all get along great, seriously!) and then we will BEGIN BUILDING OUR HOUSE!! YAY!

I am so excited, but I really wish we could just move into it. These next 8 months are going to be long. I am not excited about packing, or doing it in ONE WEEK. Yes, that's right. We have until July 1. So much for the nice notice! Oh well. Luckily Michael comes home from school tomorrow so he can help!

One thing I am NOT looking forward to is parting with our one dog and two cats :( Rocky is coming with us to my parents house because he just can't part with Momma :). The other three are going to Michael's parents because my poor Dad would die of an allergic reaction if we had all of them there. I just hope they adjust ok. Titan will be just fine, but the cats I worry about. I just hope our construction company builds fast so I don't have to worry about it.

So for the next week you won't hear from me. Hopefully after that there will be many house updates and Patrick updates! Wish us luck!