Everyone Needs to Wear Sunscreen

Especially in Northern California! It was hot, hot, hot, scorchingly HOT this weekend.

And nothing makes a beastly hot weekend better than a teething baby boy in a house with no AC or screens on the windows for that matter.

Finally, yesterday afternoon when Ben came home from work, we broke down and bought a kiddie pool. And let me say, how they have changed since I had them as a little girl! I remember them being just big ol' round plastic pools. We were lucky if mom sprang for the one with the built in slide. They were like $5. Tar.get had no such pools. And my lord, were there ever a numerous amount of choices! Seriously, it's a paddling pool. My head almost blew up from the stress of the right investment (cause seriously they were all about $25...for a kiddie pool!). Had the hubs not been there, I would have said screw it and bought a huge rubbermaid tub.

We settled on a pool, and stocked up on more box fans. As Isaac snoozed, we set up the pool.

It's nice to know that some things about kiddie pool don't change. For example, you still have to let the sun warm the water. I am not that patient. I dumped about 5 bucketfuls of hot water in it to speed up the process.

At long last, Isaac was awake, slathered in SPF 75 (true story. although I am pretty sure anything over 35 all works the same. maybe it is just peace of mind for mothers to think that their child is covered in an invisble jacket), and in his Ne.mo swimmie diaper. Into the pool he went.

I should have remembered how long it took him to learn to love the bath. He was scared. I am pretty sure the neighbors had the phones in their hands to dial child services. We put him on the bath sling, but he still didn't get it. Finally, Mommy had to climb in the pool with him. In her shorts. But damn, it felt GOOD.

Once I was in the pool with him, he loved it. He splashed and swam around til the it started to cool down (love living 15 minutes from the coast...like free AC at night).

I, however did not put on sunscreen...and I got a little burnt. And PS....I really want the FP Precious Planet Magic Sprinkles pool...and tried hard to feed my addiction....alas, there were no local or online dealers. See how fancy smancy this pool is? And we picked the least extravagant one. True Story. Again, pool manufacturers who supply Tar.get...IT'S A KIDDIE POOL. FANCY NOT NEEDED!

And Friday night marked the first meal of green beans! LOVED IT! and LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the BabyCook. LOVE IT! We ate rice cereal and green beans for dinner the past 3 nights. A few more nights of the beans we will move to carrots, I think. :) And let me note, my husband is only brave enough to spoonfeed when I am standing right there.

Five

This time five short months ago, I was happily drugged up to high heavens, slurping down jello...

a few hours, more drugs, and some hefty grunts and pushes later, out popped this critter:



Five months old today. FIVE! It seems like only yesterday, I was typing up a post about turning four months. For that matter wasn't it like last week that I was announcing someone popped out three weeks before his due date? Man, oh man, how the times races by!

The past month has seen so much growth and change, he's like a different baby. If I hadn't been there to witness it all, I would say you were talking about a different child alltogether.

Isaac eats solids like it is his job. He knows that when the high chair is pulled out from the table, and the bib fastened around his neck, it is ON! Here comes the good stuff. He is eating about 2-3 ounces of cereal per sitting teice a day and getting one cereal bottle. We conquered Rice and Oats, and are in the midst of barley. He's not such a fan (don't worry, Daddy...I am sure this is not an indicator that your son will not drink beer), so I am saying screw the barley, green beans here we come! Tomorrow afternoon the BabyCook will make it's debut on my counter and will be filled with organic green goodness. No turning back now!

Given his start on solids, Isaac is moving toward three meals a day with light bottle/boob snacks in between. Sigh....Why am I seeing him eat cheeseburgers as he drives off in his car to head to college all of a sudden?

And he's a mobile man. He still can't quite roll from belly back to belly, but he is really close. And I don't know how, but he can turn himself all around on his play mats. His thighs are monstrous from all the jumperoo action and I am afraid he is going to kick right through the bassinet walls.

Catch that? We are still in the bassinet. And I don't want to talk about otherwise until we are back from our Oh.io wedding trip in 2 weeks (Hear that K? You are getting married in 2 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

He's grabbing toys and chatting up a storm. His preferences are evident more and more everyday. He loves him some snowflakes and ducks (seriously is there a baby einstein with ducks in the snow?), his lama.ze cow, sophie the giraffe, and dancing to "front, back, side to side...front front, back back, side to side." He grabs brother and sister kitty when he can. He chats and squeals up a storm. Bath time is Daddy time, and he loves the water. We introduced bath toys last night and he is rivetted by the Mun.chkin Sq.uirters. He is fascinated by Curious Geroge and I am pretty sure his first word will be mono. Sometimes at night when he is fussing for food, I distinctly hear "Maaaaaaaaaaa-ma." He loves meeting new people and hams it up for the ladies. I'm already defensive of my handsome boy...back off girls, he's mine, all mine! Break his heart and I will hurt you...

And my favorite thing: If I lean close to him he grabs my hair with both hands and pulls my face toward his, and plants wetness all over my cheeks and nose.

He is trying desperately to sit up. When we grab his hands he starts to hoist himself. He let go of one arm and let him balance. Or he lets go because he loves the flop backwards. :) He's getting there.

He's still really small...some 3 month onesies still fit and 3-6 month clothes are still roomy on him. His feet are monstrous. His hair is lighter, and his eyes have remained blue with flecks of green and gold.

Yep, it ws just five short months ago that my life changed forever. Five months ago that I didn't know it was possible to love someone so much and so hard. There is just no phrase that fits. I just love him hardcore, my precious little pumpkin face.

Baby Crack

Someone needs to alert the police to Satan's minyons at work down at the Fish.er Pri.ce HQ....they are known distributors of baby crack...or should I say Mommy crack?

Our drug of choice? Precious Planet. Had I known that this collection would arrive soon after my newborn arrival, I would have held off on several purchases to acquire this collection. And my husband informs me that I am not, under any means, to buy an additional swing, play pen, bouncer, jumperoo....etc. I think he threw in the words "baby spending allowance" and "therapy."

Seriously, I can't stop buying the stuff. While I am forbidden on the larger scale items, I have snuck in quite a few of the smaller ones. And like a typical addict, the receipts and goods are well hidden. So far we have scored some kick butt dope in the form of hooded towels, wash clothes, a monkey bank, 2 blankets, a slew of bibs...and this:

And I am totally blaming this gal for enabling my addiction because she tweeted this link and being the twittering fool I am, I fell right into her drug ring. (Note: I don't know if this was the EXACT link, but it's pretty darn close...I followed it from my blackberry and the internet is sometimes not so hot in that form.)

Yep, this adorable little piano that Isaac can play with his feet gave me my next buzz. And I think him, too. He loves it! He's like a little Moza.rt. And see how entranced Sophie is with his masterpieces?

Ah, but the high only lasts so long and I am already looking to score my next buzz. And soon...I'm starting to shake like a dope fiend. I am thinking it's the bath toys. Those are small and seem easy enough to hide. What I really want is the booster chair. If I get really bold in my habit, it might end up in my house sooner than later. Perhaps I can distract the hubs with something from his Daddy crack habit (Ahem! Oh.io Sta.te).....

DISCLAIMER: If I have enabled any fellow FPPP baby crack addicts, I am not sorry. If I'm going down, I am taking y'all with me! Also note, if you purchase any of said FPPP baby crack and post pictures on your blog, or even mention it, you best have an alarm system because my habit might force me to score my next buzz at your house. Or least I will be insanely jealous. :)

DISCLAMER #2: If you work for FP, I realize and fully admit that you don't ACTUALLY sell crack to babies or mothers for that matter. All in good fun, my friends. Don't call the FP peeps if you really are looking for crack.

Isaac and the Ducks

Wow...been so crazy busy, I have had zero time to blog. So much to say, so little time... :) Plus I wanted to leave my Maddie post prominant for a while. (Note: Have done several orders already and have some parties booked! Keep spreading the Maddie love!)

We had a great first Father's Day. Mostly because my work-a-holic husband decided to take the day off so we could be together as a family. Have I ever told you how much Isaac LOVES his Daddy? Cause he does...it's almost sickening, really. :) He is becoming quite the mini version of his father...looking more and more like him every day. Sigh. I was just an incubator, I guess. :)

Anyhoo, we had a lazy morning of baby snuggles and cuddles and a wonderful lunch of Daddy's favorite burritos. Isaac gave Daddy his presents (an Ohio Sta.te commuter bag fulled with little goodies, including a Tshirt that reads "Daddy needs a beer"...very white trash, I know. ;) ). Then we took Isaac for a walk around the nearby Spr.ing Lak.e. where he made some new friends

Isaac LOVED the ducks. He loved Daddy's duck noises even more, and tried to make them himself. My little genius baby. He watched them for so long and smiled and squealed as Daddy held his hand out to them. The ducks were very friendly...a little too friendly in my opinion, as I watched several of them nip at my husband's fingers thinking they were food and envisioning my baby's foot in their mouths. I swear, I am not paranoid. Once the geese rolled in and actually started to climb up on the banks and bee-line towards the stroller, we decided it was time to move on.

When we got home, we were all still making duck noises just to see the smile on his face. His love of ducks is apparently not limited to real live ducks and the quacks made by Uncle C's duck toy for Dozer brought a similiar reaction. Loves him some waterfowl, my boy.

It was a wonderful day for us, and made us realize just how very important is to spend time together as a family without phones and TV and other distractions. We have commited to one Sunday like this a month. It doesn't seem like alot but it really is to us. I sure do love my boys. :)

My Mary Kay for Maddie

Many of you have probably heard the story of Maddie. Madeline Spohr was born to Mike and Heather 11 weeks early and demonstrated what a fighter she was from the get-go. She was a beautiful, inspiring little girl with an infectious smile that left the world unexpectedly on April 7, 2009.

I never met Maddie or her parents, but I became hooked on the blog that told her of her adventures and her parents witty tweets. I don't know her family in person, but I know this: No one should ever have to deal with the heartache of losing a child. No one. EVER. I can't imagine the pain and devastation that her parents are feeling. I look at my beautiful little boy, and I know I want to do something to help honor Madeline, and to help premature babies and their parents. I want to help raise money for March of Dimes, her favorite charity, in honor of sweet Maddie.

You may recall that I mentioned I started to sell Mary Kay. With the help and support of my family, friends, and community, I have successfully started my business. And it is giving me the means to help a bigger cause.

Starting today, June 15 until July 15, all profits from my Mary Kay business will be donated to March of Dimes in Maddie's name. ALL of it. Whether it's $1 or $1000. Let's help MOD help other families from experiencing this heartache. Let's help inspire the way Maddie did throughout her life.

So if you need skincare products or make-up, if you use Mary Kay or know anyone that does...now is the time to buy. You can order through my website. There are tons of promotions and new products out for summer, and every order in the US will get free shipping. Any purchase will be tax-deuctible and I will send a donation receipt with orders. I won't keep any of your information in my customer base unless you ask me too, and I won't profit at all. IT IS ALL FOR MADDIE.

I wish there was more I could do, that any one could do. I wish more than anything, that this tragedy never happened to these loving parents, and that somehow, someway I could make their pain and heartache go away.

(Note: The donation to March of Dimes in honor of Maddie is only taking place from my personal business, as far as I know. This is not a Mary Kay company wide event/donation period. But wouldn't it be great if it was?! :) )

This Parenting Stuff...

...man, it's HARD work! :)

Everyone says it and everyone hears it....you just don't know how it will actually be until you are thrown into it. There is no way to accurately describe it to anyone, you just have to experience it for yourself.

Yeah, it is very trying at times.

Take last night for example: Isaac decided to go to bed at 6 instead of 8:30 to 9 ish like normal. This was partly my fault. I let him jumperoo most of the day because he has so much fun doing it and I got so many good pictures and videos. It keeps him occupied for a good hour every time. Regardless, it makes him sleepy as all heck. So bath time and oatmeal cereal bottle time rolled around and the boy was out. Into the crib we went. And slept until about 9, woke up to eat...back into the crib...woke up and 11:30 and was up. He was up and ready to rock until 2. 2 AM. I can't do 2 AM when I have to work the next day.

It didn't help that my husband was restless and unable to fall asleep. He had worked later than usual due to inventory, so everyone was thrown off.

I tried everything to get him back to sleep. He nursed and acted sleepy but no avail. Finally I gave up the fight and took him to the couch to watch Lullaby Time Baby Einstein. He watched it while I snoozed. It worked pretty well....he nursed one more time and was finally back to sleep. It was 2 AM. I have to get up at 5:30.

And that didn't happen. I got up at 6:30. Still made it to work on time but was faced with a semi-difficult decision.

Isaac was still sleeping at 7:30 when I was getting ready to leave. The question loomed: do I wake him to feed him and change him, or let him sleep and let Ben deal with it? Note: I hear the first little whimpers of him waking...Ben doesn't. Herego, by the time he does hear Isaac, the baby is pretty upset. I woke Ben up and lef the decision to him...he opted to letting sleeping babies lie.

That is one of the easier decisions involved in parenting. Some of the ones we have made already have been somewhat difficult. And I know the more difficult ones are yet to come. Making these decisions completely exercises every emotion and intellectual cell of my being. And although, I am confident in my decisions, there are still times that I look back on them and waver ever so slightly.

Another example: We started cereal and solid food early. I technically gave Isaac cereal about a week before the 4 month mark (seriously, in those 7 days what is really going to change? If he's allergic, he is going to be allergic.). And then I started the solids cereal way before the 5 month mark. In my mothering opinion, he was ready. And this is what was best. No matter what the doctor says or recommends, I had made up my mind. And most likely we will start the white and orange solid foods at 5 months, once the cereals are well established. Again, this is against what the Dr. says, but we stand firm in our decision.

I know as parents, we just want what is best for our children. We want them to be healthy, safe, and happy individuals. I have always known this, even going into the whole pregnancy and parenthood thing. But it's true...nothing prepares you for the decisions and experiences you will have as a parents until you are thrown into it. No matter how many books you read, how many people give you tips and advice...it all boils down to how you actually handle it.

The decisions and experiences are hard. No question. Being Isaac's mother has already pushed my limits very much. It's made me think of things I never would have otherwise. It's made me change aspects of my life to better my son that most likely would not have changed by any other means. But the other addage that is so so very true...being a parent is one of the most rewarding experiences you will ever have...and you just won't know how much so until you are in it.

They Grow So, So Fast

Isaac is hitting so many firsts these days, it is hard to keep track of them. His personality is shining through more and more each and every day. We are learning so much about him. Today he jumped in the jumperoo for about an hour, twice. He ate his cereal. He rolled around his bedroom floor and on Mommy and Daddy's bed. He pet the kitties. He watched Baby Einstein. We had several in depth conversations with each other. :) We walked around the yard and smelled the flowers. He took a nap in his big boy crib.

I just can't believe how quickly he is growing! He is definately starting to teethe. He loves to sit up and stand up and dance. He's getting pretty good and it too, and is less floppy every day. He smiles, and smiles, and smiles...laughs and laughs and laughs.

And I just can't believe how much I love him...more and more every single day.

I Want That!!!!!!

We try to eat dinner as a family, but it has been hard since Isaac joined our dinner party. :) Of course, he always gets fed first and most times that means Ben eats while I feed the baby boy. Ever since he has been big enough, we have been sitting him at the dinner table with us in his high chair (when possible...sometimes it's just not.). And lately, he has been eyeing our spoon and forkfuls of food and practically drooling over Mommy delish cooking (true story). One morning while nursing on the boppy, a certain little man went as far to grab my oatmeal laden spoon and pull it toward his little mouth.

After this, I decided to give the cereal off a spoon a whirl...all the signs of being ready were there...and boy, was he ever ready! We have been doing it for about a week, and it is going AWESOME! Isaac took to the spoon like a fish to water, no problems. As soon as he goes in the high chair with a big ol bib on, he knows something good is coming his way! He recognizes the spoonful of cereal at the beginning of the feeding, and before I know it, his little mouth is wide open and saliva is dripping down his face in anticipation. :) He is however, a messy eater, like his Daddy.

His eating repetoire now goes a little like this: big breakfast of both sides of the milk factory, mid-morning snack of about 3-4 ounces, lunchtime rice cereal 4 oz. bottle or 2 oz.rice cereal from spoon, afternoon snack of 4 ounces, dinner of both sides of milk factory, before bedtime oatmeal cereal bottle.

Because Milk Doesn't Grow On Trees!

A certain man who lives in my household who I am married to and shall remain nameless at this time does not seem to understand where breastmilk comes from. I can't tell you how many times he has seen me whip out a boob or grudgeningly hook up the pump. For that matter, he has stood right next to me when I am unpacking and pouring milk into freezer storage bags and saying how concerned I am about not keeping up with Isaac's eating habits and needs. He sees me pop the Fenugreek every night after dinner and scrub down sinks full of bottles, breast shields, and tubing. Sigh.

One would think that would lead this man to believe that breastfeeding and pumping are no easy feats and the products of said feats are a valuable commodity. Therefore the products of said feats should be treated as such.

This treatment does not involve leaving bottles from the morning on the counter with 2 ounces of milk left in them until I come home and freak out. It also does not involve deciding that you don't want to give the baby the bottles in the order the Milk Producer instructs you to do so. I defrost milk based on what the baby ate the day before with a little extra. Most times he has a bottle left from the day before that can be used for his morning bottle or cereal bottle at lunch.This means it needs to be used FIRST. Before the freshly ddefrosted milk. Again, sigh.

I have spouted the rules of no more than 5 hours at room temperature, a day in the fridge, 5 months frozen.

Seriously, the milk can't be wasted. We need every precious drop for when Isaac hits a growth spurt and Mommy takes a bit of time to catch up to him.

Full Circle

It was just a little over a year ago that we found out our lives were about to change forever. I remember it crystal clear. My husband and I had just recently made the decision to ditch the BCP. And when I say recently, I mean about a month beforehand. I was at Walmart and about to buy those wonderful Sl.imF.ast shakes because I had them for breakfast. I was about a week late, but chalked it up to the change in hormones and diet. I had been reading everyone around me's struggles and frustrations with getting pregnant, so I was convinced it would be the same for us. Still, I wanted to play it safe before I started anything new going into my body, so I bought a 2pk of EPT. It turned positive before I was even done on the potty.


I think about how far we've come since that day and how much life has changed. I think about the person I was, and I barely remember her. I can't imagine being anyone except the mother that I am now. I enjoyed my life pre-mommyhood, but I am relishing the new roles we have as parents.

So much has changed. So many priorities have shifted. So much has happened. And it has only been a year.

Since last June, we've seen friends get married, friends have babies, friends get engaged, taken trips...we've changed jobs, changed insurances, changed banks, changed hairstyles. We got rid of businesses and started new ones. We went from financial question marks to a more secure position. We went from a married couple to expecting parents to a family.

And then there are Isaac's changes. He went from itty bitty peanut in mommy's tummy, to little belly acrobat who kept mommy awake at night by using her bladder as a trampoline to a squirmy little newborn with shaggy dark hair to little man who rolls over and has cooing conversations.

I have been transferring files onto my new laptop and I downloaded our photos and videos of Isaac. There is a great vidoe that Ben took of me having contractions and getting doped up in the hospital (thanks Honey!), and there is one of my baby boy at 4 days old. He's just laying on his boppy in a newborn sleeper that is a bit big on him, blinking and moving ever so slightly. He's so little and barely aware of his surroundings. He can hear me and stares into the camera, trying to figure out what it is. Then there is one I took a few days ago in which he is laying on his belly, head held high with a big toothless smile. He shrieks with excitement at the camera because now he knows what it is and hams it up. Then he tucks his shoulder under and rolls and rolls.

There are pictures from our in laws' vacation out here last year, with us smiling and my tummy seemingly untouched by pregnancy. There are the week by week shots of my growing belly. There are pics of the expecting parents standing in front of the Sta.tue of Li.berty. There is a picture of my best friend in her wedding dress, radiating next to me as her pregnant bridesmaid. There's our last Chris.tmas as just the two of us. There are two baby shower cakes and mountains of pastel colored paper and bags. There is a hospital room with mommy wolfing down jello. Then there is an itty bitty Peanut being cradled and kissed. There are 4 months of milestones for a growing baby boy.

We've all changed. And we've been so fortunate in the journey from month to month. We've become who we have dreamed about. We are blissfully happy parents with a beautiful, happy, healthy son and amazing family and friends.

We feel blessed in every way possible. :)

Not Quite Ready

We recently noticed Isaac's bassinet is becoming smaller and smaller in sleeping area. And when I say noticed, I mean he hits the sides with his legs and arms while stretching out in his sleep, causing banging and clanging of the said furniture. I think it wakes him up sometimes. So begins the discussion of the crib...

Or rather, so begins the separation anxiety for Mommy.

I told myself and all interested parties inquiring about this impending transition that it would take place when a certain baby slept through the night or starting rolling over. The rolling happened on Friday. Feeling amazingly proud of his accomplishment, I also felt the pit drop in my stomach. I begged my husband for one more night with my baby boy next to me. And then...he slept through the night. I didn't even get to pull him in bed with me to eat his midnight snack. Sigh. He hit both conditions in one day. I really had no excuse now.

So Saturday night rolled around. The crib tent was assembled and Guiliani was already climbing all over it trying to figure out how to get through it into his napping place. The baby monitors were charged and remounted. The mobile and Oc.ean Won.ders Aq.uarium were fully loaded with new batteries and their remotes hanging in place on the door knob. Mr. Sea.horse had made the journey from bassinet and was happily nestled in the crib. And then it was time...Isaac ate his cereal bottle and cuddle with Mommy until he drifted off.

I held him an extra long time, avoiding the walk down the hallway to the end where I would turn right to Isaac's room instead of left into mine. I finally bit the bullet and set him down. The tent wasn't even zipped before the tears started to roll down my cheeks. I stood there and watching my little pumpkin face sleep peacefully, stretched out on his new mattress and freshly washed sheets. I cried.

Then I laid on the couch and cried. When I stopped I moved into my bedroom to read before bedtime. I saw the bassinet pushed against the wall, where it sits during the day, and not right up against my bed. And I cried again. Finally, I fell asleep with the monitor turned up to max volume. He woke up around his normal feeding time and somehow he didn't make it back into the crib...or the bassinet. He stayed nestled next to Mommy. He kicked me to let me know he was uncomfy, and I was instantly taken back to the kicks I used to feel when he was uncomfy in my belly during my pregnancy. He wanted more space to sleep and stretch out. I cried again.

He was ready....I was not.

I am still not. I don't want to let go. I want my baby with me at night. I don't get him during the day all time anymore. Why can't I keep the nights?

Ppppppppffffffffffftttttttttt!

That is my best stab at spelling the new farting noise Isaac has discovered he can make. It was all I heard this weekend!

And I never thought I would be saying this but I wish the sound was coming out of the end it was meant to! Baby boy hasn't pooed in 3 days, and it has us a bit concerned. Oh, the gas is there. The child could clear a room. Seriously. We have given him a small amount of prune juice, but no avail. The child is backed up. Any suggestions? Yes, I am asking for help on poop. Ah, the glamorous life I lead.

In addition to his first major bout with constipation, Isaac visited the Mar.ine Ma.mmal C.enter for the first time yesterday! He loved it. He even dressed the part, in his walrus onesie and socks from friend K, and his MMC bib that we bought him. He really liked to hear the elephant seals barking (although if you have ever heard an elephant seal, it sounds more like a monkey). And mommy loved the littled harbor seals. :) It was chilly on the headlands, but we had a lot of fun.

The majority of his 0-3 month clothes have been packed up. :( Still in size 1 diapers. And a first for mommy? Fenugreek. God bless you, fenugreek. I am definately seeing an increase in my milk supply. Again, the glamour. :)