A little bit of the Mom funk

Every now and than I escape for 15 minutes or so and drive to pick up dinner or go and get my hair cut (that's a few hour escape) and I feel like I find a little piece of a girl that I use to know. The girl before I had kids. Trust me I love being a Mom, best job I've ever had but I would be lying if I said driving down the road with the windows rolled down and my stereo turned up didn't make me miss a part of my life I use to have. The freedom, the go go go, the independence and selfishness.

Really though when I think about it, that girl doesn't exists anymore. That girl left. That selfish part of me grieved in the first weeks of bringing Mason home and was no where to be seen by the time Max came home.

Most days I feel like a strong confident woman.

But every now and than I get a bit of the Mom funk. That I am sick of wearing my hair in a braid or a bun, the minimal makeup if any, the attempt at putting on clothes that don't make me look like a slob.


I think I need to find a little bit of that girl from my 20's again and the main reason is my weight. I've never been the skinny girl but I have been thin. I have been healthy and before I got pregnant with Max I felt that little bit of me coming back.  I have had the hardest time loosing the baby weight this time. I am breastfeeding exclusively, haven't even used my pump in months. I am hungry. I am making good food decisions, I am making too many of them. I am carrying a 20-lb baby around everyday and trying to take walks and do weight lifting when I can find 30 minutes. The scale is not budging. I am frustrated.  Every camp has a different message. Do Atkins, Don't diet while breastfeeding, Do Paleo, Weight watchers, just work out...and than there's all the beautiful mothers I know who are stick skinny and can't eat enough to keep weight on. When did I become the fat girl?

Its summer and its time to figure this thing out.

The golden months of babyhood: months six and seven

Life is moving along at a brisk but enjoyable pace. Max just began his eighth month but for record purposes here is a little re-cap of months six and seven. 

 

Month six.

Mastering sitting opens your world up to more adventure. Your big brother pushing you in a swing is just that, an adventure.

 

I'm pretty sure you have outgrown all of the clothing items in this picture.

Your first Easter.

Your mesmerized by your big brother. I often am too. That kids a kick.

You love to "tell a good story" lots of BA BA BA's and Da Da Da's with an occasional Ma.

Your interest in the world opens daily but you still like the warmth of a familiar lap.

or the arms of a special Aunt.

 

Seven Months.

I am able to leave you on the floor with some toys and your brother. This last about 20+ minutes and gives my back a break from your nearly 20lbs.

I am not sure what I would do without our ergo. We love that thing.

This is us with the flu. We managed to miss most of flu season but it finally caught us. You spent quite a few days in the ergo. You are not much of a crier but those days you were. I hurt and knew you hurt which made me hurt more. Do you follow?

But with lots of sleep we are back to our usual. You are a sleeper.  Here's the thing; you have never slept in your crib. OK maybe once for five minutes because you were so tired your eyes forced themselves shut. Your sleep comes via my arms or the ergo and I love it. I get a lot of flack about this but I know this phase too shall pass. If he is still in my arms at 17 than things got weird and people should feel free to intervene.

We have been spending a lot of time outside as the weather warms up. You love it. You also like to eat grass so we have to keep a close eye on you. 

You are getting close to crawling. There is constant rocking and yoga moves in order to get to the toys we have strategically placed just out of reach. Dad has you in "crawling boot camp" to try and offset my attachment parenting. It seems to be working.

While I cook or clean, you manage to get across our kitchen and into the cupboards. You love to remove all the contents and throw them around. Its the best kind of noise.

I would describe your personality as "quite the ham!"

 

Good gravy we are so in love with you.

Eight months old and starting to pull your self up on anything you can. Oh we remember what that leads too. Looks like its going to be a busy summer, I better get some new tennis shoes.

 

6 months

Its been six months since this guy joined our family and I wouldn't change a day.

 

Here is a little re-cap of months 4 and 5.

 

Four months.

You started off your jet setting early, first airplane ride to Maui. You did great on the airplane. For the most part traveling did not phase you. In this picture we are at Duke's for dinner. Yummy.

4 Month checkup: 17Lbs (80th), 26-inches(80th), and big head (80th percentile.) Exactly the same stats as Mason at this age, weird.

Month four and the drool began. Dad nicknamed you "puddles." You are so smiley and happy and will tolerate tummy time for a few minutes but prefer playing while on your back.

Towards the end of four months we introduced the Jumperoo. Just like Mason you love to jump. Mom loves this because it buys me some time to make dinner or get a few chores done without you on my chest.

 

Five months.

You are sitting on your own and started to sit in your highchair at meals instead of in my arms. You grab for everything and put it directly in your mouth. You love Mason and he can make you giggle more than anyone else. Your laugh is one of the best sounds I have ever heard.

You are babbling a lot to your toys and us. Making raspberries has you and Mason cracking up which is more reason to continue doing it.

At 24 weeks (about 5.5 months) we began solids. Mom decided it was time because you started waking at night to eat a few times, something you hadn't done since 6 weeks. I love making your food as I did with your brother and you seem to be liking it too. Your first food was avocado; followed by applesauce, carrots, peas, and squash. You still prefer breast milk to most solids but we enjoy having you be a part of our family meals.

The park is more fun and we let you out of the Ergo a little more. You are just starting to like the stroller but Mom is not ready to have that be a full time thing. I think you prefer to be worn anyways. Time marches too quickly and I will hold on to this phase as long as I can. You love being outside cold or hot.

Mason is one of your favorite people and you are one of his. Its amazing to see that bond occurring so early. Your Great Aunt Kelly made you this beautiful afghan. I love the colors.

You are six months to the day in this picture.

Six month checkup: 18lbs (55th), 27-inches (75th) and 95th for head. Big noggin.

We get compliments from family and friends saying "he is the easiest baby," our pediatrician even made the remark and you truly are. This has me fearing the toddler years:-) You have been sleeping through the night for months snuggled into my arms. Love co-sleeping. You won't take a bottle at all and I gave up around 4-months after trying every type and model. So I guess that makes you a boob guy:-) You are smiley and flirty and so content. I don't think you are as eager to move like your big brother was and is. You have only rolled a few times and I think those were accidental. Its hard to not compare but it happens. Its a blessing to not have your children be identical. That you get to see all the fun and not so fun things that make up each one of your little personalities. Max you have and will continue to own our hearts too, we love you Puddles in a big way.

.

 

 

Cousins

Our blog has taken a backseat as of late. A huge work deadline and two sweet boys have been keeping me busy.

 

I still need to get some pictures up of our Maui trip but decided to post about our cousins first.

 

We love our cousins near and far. Friends with a family twist.

 

 

AND I love that my boys have a new cousin on the way!!! Nick and Angie are having a baby girl in July and we are so over the moon about this news. They are going to be awesome parents and we are going to love on that baby girl like no other.

And since I am in love with the word love in this post I would also like to add that I love my sister-in-laws. They all rock! Ok enough of the lovey dovey stuff. Babies do that to me.

 

 

Cousins Keegan and Cormic (and my brother and Em too) came for a quick visit in January. Of course we spent our time together up at Grandma and Papa's.

 

Cousin time with these guys is loud and lots of fun. These boys are kind of like a pack of wolves. Wrestling, howling, peeing on all the trees...

 

The baby of the pack is of course still sweet and cuddly. This was the first time everyone meet Max and they were immediately smitten with his calm little spirit too.

 

One of the best parts of your kids getting older is being able to let them go outside without you.

 

 

I mean you still have to check on them occasionally because they could be tying each other up with ropes. See prior mention of pack of wolves.

When their little wolf spirits need the warmth of their den the basement serves as a good playground too!

Have you noticed my kid is whackty whack?!?! Love that kid.

and of course we must feed the pack...Grandma always has good snacks. Mason and Cormic finished off the guacamole. Partly because their hands were all up in it and the adults were not willing to tread in that germ pool:-) That was ok because my Mom let Cade request the dinner being made and the meal we were about to consume was some serious down home yumminess.

 

Fried Chicken, Mashers and gravy, biscuits and corn and homemade yellow cake with hot fudge sauce. Still burning off that meal.

The kids were even in food comatose. At my parents house the counter is the "kid table" many a meal I have sat there. Its a right of passage in a way. Aren't all kid's tables?

 

After we rolled ourselves away from the table we snuggled in for some movie time

and with them calm enough a quick picture of the four of them was successful.

 

Anytime they want to move home to Colorado would be just fine by us!!!

Max's First Christmas

Max we know your First Christmas will not be something you remember but this past Christmas was a relaxing, family filled, snowy kind of Christmas.

Max at 3 months, such a happy little guy.

 

A quick snapshot before Mason's Preschool Christmas recital.

 

Meeting up with the "Big Guy"

                                                  

Homemade ornaments (Mason's Santa Hand and Max's Mistletoe's) for Grandma and Papa. Thank you pinterest.  

Grandma's Christmas goodies.

 

Christmas fluffy bears always keeping an eye out.

Getting suited up for some winter wonderland walks.

 

 Wearing Big brother's handy downs. 

Snuggled up for a Winter's stroll...to burn off Grandma Cathy's goodie tray.

 

 

A White Christmas. 

 

Building and decorating a Mason sized "gingerbread" house 

 

Cousins discussing the gifts they hoped Santa would bring. 

 

Papa cuddling you by the fire.

Big Brothers in their snorkel gear and Spidey Jammies.

Grandparents who spoil their grandson's with fun things to play on

 

And Christmas morning family pictures...were looking a little rough:-)

but for me I will remember the Christmas Eve excitement as we all snuggled in bed waiting for Santa to come while you nursed away oblivious to how much fun next year and all the years to come will be. Merry first Christmas my sweet boy.