Baby Boy's 1st Christmas

Baby Boy's 1st Christmas by nursetmj on Polyvore

So I am new at this whole BOY Mom thing.  And I have no idea what to get my little man for Christmas!

I mean, with girls...it's easy:  Bows, anything with ruffles, clothes and more clothes, dolls, etc.  Elmo.  You know...

But with boys...what?  Trucks?  Balls?  Books?

I know he's only going to be 6 months old at Christmas, so it's not like he's going to have an opinion on it, lol.  But I'm struggling!  And a confession:  We have NO BOY TOYS in this house.  None.  I feel guilty.  And that's just ridiculous because he doesn't know the difference.

I guess I just feel like anything I get him that is not gender specific, translates into gifts for both kids (such as books).  I want him to have his own things and feel special too.

Above are a few of my ideas...any boy moms out there that can give a girl some tips?  

Joey 5 Months

Whoah.  Well it happened, my Joey Bear turned 5 months old.

"Well Hello there..."  This would be a 12-month size onesie he is drowning in because I can't currently find our 6-month stash!  MomFail.

PHOTO BOMB! LOL!

 He's into:

Sucking his hands all.the.time.

His jumper

Rolling around on the floor - he will crane his neck in the most unnatural way to get his body to maneuver around so he can see what the heck is going on

Being held

Watching his sister

Talking

Blowing raspberries

His bath

Looking out the car window during car rides

Me singing to him.  (I know...what the?!)

Sleeping on his belly

 He's NOT into:

Eating rice cereal

Being the slightest bit hungry.  Even if he's already eaten TWICE in the past hour.

Having a dirty diaper.

Being put down after being held.  Not acceptable!

 Other Notes about Joey Bear:

He's mostly sleeping through the night. Still.  PTL.  Goes to bed around 8pm, same as big sister.  If he does wake up, it's usually around 4 or 5am, he's pooped his dipe and hungry again.  

I don't mind this time with him at all.  

I love that quiet, dark time together with him.  

He smiles at me and grips my hand as I feed him.  

Melts my heart.

He's getting good at holding objects like a spoon to suck on or Sophie the Giraffe

No idea what he weighs...I'm guessing 16+ pounds.

Wearing 6-12 month clothing now.  He's gigantic!

Still has the most beautiful deep blue eyes.  His hair has come back in and it's fuzzy and dark blonde.

He has the most contagious laugh and giggle 

and it's so easy to get a smile out of him.  

Oh, and he's LOUD ; )  

His personality continues to emerge every day and so far, 

I'd say he's a pretty happy guy 

who likes to be in on the action.

He's had some diarrhea the past couple of days - not sure what that's all about, 

but he is certain to let me know about it as soon as he's dirty.  

Whole lotta diaper changin' round here.

I've stopped breastfeeding.  This was a really hard decision for me and I'm still sad about it.  

It was going so well....until it wasn't.

I would feed and feed and feed him.  And it still wasn't enough.  He would scream and cry.  Every feeding was being supplemented with a bottle. (We could've continued down that road for infinity.)  Have you seen his little rolls?  He wasn't starving, lol!

In addition, he was getting to be a barracuda to breast feed.  Thrashing and bucking around.  Breaking the latch when he got distracted (which was 50 times per feeding).  I would contort my body to get him to latch on and have rotten neck aches.  It just seemed to get more difficult each day.  *Meanwhile, I'd no sooner get settled in with him, get him latched on, and Morgan would come running up to me screeching she needs more water* #cantwin

I could have corrected the low supply situation, I suppose, with pumping.  But there was never time during the day to pump with 2 kids under 2, and by evening I am too exhausted.  And really?  I just wasn't that motivated.  Sure, if he were 2 months old, I would've been more aggressive to get my baby breast milk,  but at this point I was ready to have my body back to myself.  I've been pregnant and or nursing for the past 2+ years STRAIGHT.  I think there was maybe a month in there that I stopped pumping for Morgan and then got pregnant again.  So I decided it was time.

My Dr. also explained to me that as long as I continue to breastfeed, my body will remain in an estrogen-starved state.  Meaning the brain lapses, wonky hormones and mood swings would continue.  In an effort to get everything to even out again, I counted that as one of my "Pro's" for stopping now.

So that's that.  In the coming month I am hoping to get him eating more rice cereal and we'll probably start some solid foods.  (If I can wrap my NOT READY Mama head around that!)

We love this little boy SO MUCH - I don't know why, but now with 2 kids, I really feel like a "family".  It's hard to explain.  So is the love I have for this guy - there aren't enough words to convey how I feel about him!

Just for fun, to compare them both at 5 months old....I don't really think they look that much alike any more!

Thanksgiving Pics

A few pics from Thanksgiving - and sorry I'm all over the place - story of my life!

Starting to blow raspberries ; )

Turkey Butt!

And just for fun and reference - LAST year's Thanksgiving we had BIG NEWS to share:

 And here's big sister rocking the same Turkey Butt PJ's:

Did you enjoy that little trip down memory lane with me?  OK good ; )

Now, back to THIS year:

The ONLY pic I got of us and it didn't even turn out :(  Play along with me and pretend it's a really cool Instagram filter.

 We did a lot of eatin'.  This one likes some blackberry jam!

 More jam...but this time spread all over her face for good measure.

 She insisted on fixing her own toy.  She didn't get very far.

 Two turkeys, up to no good:

Still Thankful

I'm having storage issues again with my photos on Blogger and it won't let me upload any.  I haven't had enough time to research a good solution yet either, gah!

I know we had Thanksgiving in there somewhere...a few days ago?  Our was good.  Trust that I stuffed him into a Thanksgiving-themed onesie and forced him into his big sister's Turkeybutt PJ's from last year.  Hee hee.  I love being the Mom.

Daddy's been off (yay!) and we've been busy running around.  It's SO much easier to get out of the house with an extra set of hands AND it makes the days go by so fast!

Joey turned 5 months old today.  How is that possible?

Morgan is talking up a storm, more clearly every day, and telling us "NO" all the time.

Me:  Morgan, do you love Mommy?
Morgan: Noooo
Me:  Morgan, do you love Daddy?
Morgan:  Noooo
Me:  Morgan, do you love cookies?
Morgan:  {Silence} {Smiles}
Little Turkey!

She's also recently become a BIGTIME Mama's girl.  ALWAYS wants Mama.  ONLY Mama.  It's sweet and I never thought that day would come.  But sometimes it's hard, especially when Baby Boy is crying his head off.

Hopefully soon I will be able to get some photos back up on this here blog!

If I had a second...

To think about Christmas... I'd compile a true list of gifts I'd like to get my children.  My husband.  My family.  My friends.  I'd refer to my Pinterest boards and get some new decorative inspiration put forth into action.  I'd begin holiday baking - something I always used to do.

But Crikey!  I'm getting my butt kicked again lately.  Daddys' on another long call stretch and BOTH babies have been sick.  (Thank you toddler school!)   I've wiped more snotty noses and cleaned up more poo than I care to recall.  I would get one in the tub and the other would make poop soup in the crib.  Not cool, Littles, not cool.

Laying on the hard wood floor because she didn't feel good.  Goofball!

We LOVE when this guy is around

Playing nicely, watching Bubble Guppies.

Pure Presh.  I am in love with that kissable little face!!  Look at those lips!

 In the midst of the on-call business and sick babies, a dear friend's mother lost her battle with Breast Cancer, so the Hubs and I went to the wake Sunday night.  He needed a pair of pants since all his were at the drycleaners (or being held hostage and forgotten in the back of my car, ooops!).  So I loaded up the sick little ones and we braved the mall on Sunday to go find pants for Daddy.  They did really well.  I think it did us all some good to get out of the house!

I can tell we don't get out much because every woman Morgan saw, she'd yell "Hi!  Nana!!  Hiiiii!"  Too funny!

Bribed with an Aunt Annie's pretzel and some "SISHEEES" at the mall.

Lunch on the go so we can get our shopping done.

Anyway, in the midst of all my complaining, I had a glorious realization the other day:  My kids have been sleeping well at night.  *KNOCKONWOOD*  Like, truly sleeping all night long.  There's the occasional 3am nursing session, but typically it's been 5 or 5:30am, sometimes as late as 6:30am.  (Say a little prayer for me I don't get punished for even bringing this topic up!)  Praise the Lord - I want to remember THIS!  I can't say we're doing anything special or different.  Just keeping our routine and keeping the house toasty warm. 

Now all this sleeping goodness goes out the window on Friday nights.  Why?  I don't have any clue, but for probably the past 6 weeks, you can guarantee Morgan is going to wake up, not go back to sleep for a long while, and require me to come up and party lay with her.  I've accepted it.

Morgan & I are flying to Minnesota for my cousin's wedding next weekend.  I bought these things in the hopes of avoiding a screamathon due to ear-pressure sensitivity:

Anyone have any experience or advice on this??  

Looking forward to Turkey Day - they say the average American will consume 4500 calories that day.  Yikes.  I should start fasting.  Yesterday.  Ha!  We are heading to my MIL's that day and I am in charge of bringing babies and dinner rolls.  I think I can handle that.  Daddy, of course, will be working but will hopefully be joining us later on.

When Everything Becomes a Fight

I'm standing on the brink of all things Toddler.   Boy, they are fascinating little creatures.

When did my baby girl go from this sweet, let me do anything to her (like brush her hair?!) to flat-out refusing and screaming and kicking and running and crying and wiggling?

When I would read other blogs I'd think "Aw, that poor Mama.  She just has a wild one.  *Sigh*  Good thing mine's not like that."  

Haha...I'm such a sucker.  THEY ALL TURN INTO THAT WILD ONE at some point.  This, I've learned.

The list of things I'm no longer allowed to do -- without a fight:

• Brush hair
• Clean ears
• Wipe Bum (This is not negotiable, there WILL BE clean bums in my house!)
• Wipe face
• Wipe snotty nose
• De-booger
• Clip toenails (We've only recently re-allowed fingernail clipping)
• Buckle in car seat (sometimes...depends on the day and the mood and sun and the moon)
• Remove from bath tub
• Roll up sleeves (???)
• Carry Baby Brother around for too long.
• Push buttons on washer & dryer - she has to do it.  (Ba-teee? Ba-tee? is code for "You better not be doing laundry without me woman!"  Why can't she be that passionate about learning to fold all that dang laundry?)
• Sit Baby Brother in Bumbo
• Talk on the phone

Try it.  I triple dog dare ya.

A few days shy of 21 months old and she is such a BOSS.  I know, this too shall pass.  And one day I will look back and laugh.  Heck, I'm laughing a bit now.  I love this little girl so much and she makes me absolutely crazy :-)

Tables & Toddler Issues & a Recipe

The Hubs is on call again this weekend.  When I complained (who? Me?) he reminded me that aside from working Thanksgiving Day, he has every other major holiday off this year, including weekends and a few extra days surrounding the holidays.  So I am grateful.  Sometimes it just takes a little reminder ; )

Anyhoo - Tables:  I shared how we are returning our new table & sideboard.  *Ahem* It's still sitting in my dining area.  They have yet to come and pick it up.  I've called twice and they assured me they're going to call with a pickup time.

In the meantime, I've been searching and have it narrowed down to 2 that are basically the same trestle table that I love, but have very different finishes:

Ethan Allen.  I really do love this table.

Arhaus Furniture.  I love it but the top is so bumpy.  On the bright side, kids can't damage it.

 I think the pictures, albeit not the best quality, speak for themselves.  One is a more finished version, the other reclaimed wood/beat up version.  Of note, our chairs are actually the dark brown leather ones pictured in the 2nd photo.  To make decisions tougher, the top table comes in several finishes.  I'm such a commitment-phobe!!!!!

Speaking of tables....the Toddler got one of her very own to do her coloring at and hopefully her eating as well.  I just feel like it's time to move her out of the high chair.  It was going to be a Christmas gift from Santa, but I just couldn't wait.  I'm terrible!

 And speaking of Toddlers, mine has officially entered the Toddler Anorexia phase.  She won't eat anything. Could be because she can't/won't poop...I think that is 99% of it right now.  I am so frustrated and she is just in agony, crying and screaming.  Her belly is so distended and hard.

I decided to make some comfort food and whipped up this little dish.  Using what I had on hand and it turned out surprisingly good!

I'm always trying to think of healthy lunches for me & Morgan to eat.  I swore I'd never feed her chicken nuggets, mac &cheese or hot dogs.  That went out the window LOOOONG ago, lol.  I like this dish because it gets her veggies in too.

It was based on one of those frozen entrees I had this summer while on bedrest and my sister came to visit.  I swore I'd never eat those either - so full of junk, processed foods and sodium!  But dang, it was good ; )  My version is even better and healthier - I use convenience items for time's sake, because these days I don't have time to do anything much more than dump ingredients together in a pan.

It doesn't have a name, so we'll just call it Chicken & Rice Casserole, k?

• 1 can chicken (I'd prefer to use cooked/shredded chicken breast if I had the time)
• 1 bag of Uncle Ben's Microwaveable Brown Rice
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom Soup - Low Sodium
• 1 bag fresh organic Broccoli & Carrots
• Panko breadcrumbs - Garlic & Herb
• Shredded cheese (I used Colby/Jack)

In a sauce pan, combine chicken & cream of mushroom soup.  Let that heat up while you microwave the rice (90 seconds!).  Add the cooked rice to chicken & soup mix.

Steam the broccoli & carrots.  I have a little steamer bowl I ordered from Amazon that I use pretty much every single day for our veggies. Add to the rice & chicken and mix.  Sprinkle in a little bit of the cheese and a little bit of the breadcrumbs, for flavor (but not too much or it will get too dry)

Put the entire mixture into a casserole dish, sprinkle a layer of cheese on top and a layer of breadcrumbs on top of that.  Broil on High for 3-4 minutes.

I think the whole thing took 10-15 minutes!

And lastly, my friend Amy sent me this and it cracked me up!  This is exactly how I feel these days...

Our Week

This is our week, in bullet points, captions and photos:

• I took Joey bear to the Ped on Monday to rule out an ear infection.  They diagnosed him with a sinus infection instead - treatment is the same.  So we are dealing with antibiotic diarrhea now.  

All smiles waiting in the Pediatrician's office

• We scored the above Elmo shirt at Target that has a little something to please everyone:  Elmo for Morgan.  Sequins for Mommy.  LOVE.
• Joey tried Rice Cereal for the first time.  So far?  He's not a fan.  I'm not going to push it though, he's already sleeping through the night for the most part.  He's just always SO hungry and since he's almost 5 months now, I thought I'd try it.  I am also supplementing him with formula because he just eats SO SO MUCH.

Sick baby = we've been in a holding pattern.  All. The. Time.  

We insisted on the Meow hat for lunch.

We soak lots of outfits with our endless drooling.

My happy boy, even when he's not feeling the hottest.

I found this outfit hidden in his closet.  I think I missed the window of when it might have actually fit him.  Ooops.

We did more Bumbo sitting.  Which made Big Sister MAD.  Apparently she's claimed this as HER SEAT.

Perla, the Birthday Girl and Sweet Dahlia.

I got to go out for a friend's birthday dinner last night to a GROWNUP restaurant.  Love these girls, we have so much fun when we are able to get out together!

That's a DESSERT we're holding.  I don't mess around when it comes to sweet eats!

• I went to Pilates twice this week.  I am SO weak after having 2 babies!  And sufficiently sore to prove how out of shape I am.  But I think I love it so far.
• We couldn't go to story time for our MOMS club because of poop issues.  True story.  One child is going like crazy and the other is refusing to go.  And she's miserable.
• I booked a flight to MN for just me & Morgan to go to my cousin's wedding in 2 weeks.  Praying it goes smoothly.
• I got to go to my yearly Gyno appointment this week - yay!  Said No One Ever.  I didn't blow it off only because I knew he wouldn't give me more birth control pills if I didn't see him, ha!  How's that for motivation?