Let's not Judge

my mothering skills on the frequency of my blog posts.  I have no excuse.  I would love to say that I am heretofore committing to two posts a week.  But we all know that if I add one more thing to the to-do-list-that-never-gets-done-and-just-makes-me-feel-like-a-failure I'll be crushed under the responsibility.  To catch everyone up on the life o' peanut, this will have to happen in bullet format -

• She has her first cold.  Runny nose and a bit of a cough.  I've enjoyed the challenge of getting nose drops AND the booger sucker in those tiny nostrils while my furious child is throwing a FIT.  But she can do whatever she want because MAH POOR BAYBEE IS SICK!!
• She had her first fever last week.  Possibly related to the current sickness but I'm not sure.  Experienced moms always told me that I would KNOW when she had a fever.  And they were right.  Her poor body was on FIRE.  And it was just a low grade fever.  I don't know how I'll ever handle a high fever.  I probably won't.  I'll be in the ER thankyouverymuch.  
• Did I say she has four teeth?  I can't remember if I shared that tidbit.  Along with the teeth has come teeth grinding.  It's a noise I can not tolerate.  And I'm pretty sure she won't look that cute with her front teeth ground to nubs.  So I tell her NO and tap her cheek every time I hear it.  Uk.
• I haven't slept in the past two days.  Apparently peanut feels worse at night and wakes up crying every hour.  At some point in the early AM I put her in bed with us because I'm soooo tired, but then no one gets quality sleep.  
• We finally figured out how to fit her in the jogging stroller.  I've pushed her in it twice now, and it is HARD.  I'm blaming my 2 mile limit on the extra fifteen pounds I'm pushing and not on the fact that I have the cardiovascular fitness of a slug.  
• I pinched peanut's leg in the stroller clasp tonight.  The worst-mom-of-the-year award is sitting next to the TV.  
• Stella is an awesome soccer player.  P kicks the ball for her every night.  Getting a house with a yard was the best thing we've ever done for that puppy.
• College football y'all.  It's starting.  Can't you feel it??  It's the most wonderful time of the year.  There's nothing quite like waking up to the sounds of college game day on ESPN.  
• Peanut can wave now.  She's not super consistent, but I blame that on her being a little stinker.  She waves bye bye to me every morning.  And she waves to Daddy and Nana and Grandad and Stella...  But when we're out in public and nice little old ladies wave to her, and a cute baby smile and wave would just make their YEAR, she just stares at them and does not perform.  She knows.  
• We've been painting like maniacs every chance we get, and we have the living room completely done, and have moved on to the kitchen and foyer.  But we still have the cabinets to worry about.  Remember when I said I wanted them white?  The verdict is in.  We are going to paint them ourselves.  I know we can do it.  And today a blog post I read here sealed the deal.  That is EXACTLY the look we're going for.  If they can do it we can too, right?
• I've been dealing with all sorts of guilt/unhappiness/discontentment lately in regards to being a working mom.  I could go into exactly WHY I feel the way I do or I could try to defend the plight of the working mom (because it is HARD).  But I'm not.  Because I read this post today on one of my favorite blogs and it basically sums up exactly how I feel.  And how I should feel.  Ironically enough, the author got her inspiration from another blog post.  What a wonderful resource we have stumbled across...I heart the blogging community.
• Know who else I love?  Beth Moore.  Such a wonderful Bible teacher and she is totally up my alley.  I've been trying to listen to her radio broadcasts when I have time in the mornings while getting ready for work.  I found a series on Wisdom for Moms (go here and look in the May 2010 broadcasts) that was absolutely outstanding.  And a bit intimidating (but of course the Lord doesn't expect us to achieve anything without His help!!).  What a task we as moms have been given!  To show our children how to love God.  Wow.  She also has a series called How Wisdom Looks on a Wife (go to April 2010).  I've only listened to the first one, but shoot...I've got some work to do!!  All of these are based on Proverbs 31, the "virtuous woman" passage.  Take a look and read it, even if you've read it a thousand times.  So many new things jump out at me now that I'm a wife and mother.
• When P and I started talking about what kind of family we wanted, we knew we wanted all of our children close in age.  I really really wanted our first two (yes, we plan on having more than that if it is in the good Lord's plan) to be 18 months apart.  I had a really good feeling about that number.  I was so young.  So naive.  For peanut #2 to come about within that time frame, I would have to get knocked up in OCTOBER.  As in, hello ONE MONTH AWAY.  Ha.  Hahahaha.  Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.  That sound?  Was my uterus laughing at my young, pre pregnancy self.  There is NO WAY I am anywhere close to being ready to be pregnant again.  Don't we all remember how gracefully I handled my third trimester? (::snort:: insert sarcasm font)  So if anyone out there is wondering if we're planning on creating new life any time soon, the answer is no.  No.  No no no no no.  (I'm hoping this adamant statement doesn't jinx us.  Someone out there knock on wood...)
• I need ideas for peanut's first Halloween costume.  Please impart your creativity.

That's all the brain vomit I can manage right now.  It's late and I need to get at least a little sleep before the tiny one wakes up for the night.  I don't have any new pictures of the peanut.  I'm actually really bummed about that and will do better.  BUT, I do have a video.  It makes my heart melt.

      

Woo to the Hoo!

Just a quick non-baby-related piece of news.  I stepped on the scale today and there they were.  Those numbers that haven't graced my scale since before I was with child. And I even had wet hair!  I actually could have hit this milestone any time in the past month, but I've been too scared to weigh myself due to moving and eating out waaay too much.  So I'm thrilled.  Now I just need to get my butt in shape.  I really miss running.  I'm pretty sure I could only make a mile due to my lack of cardiovascular fitness and the horrendous heat.  But I have an excuse for my absence from the pavement.  Mah baybee is too teeny for the stroller!!

That strap under her chin is supposed to go across her chest.  Currently it is a strangulation hazard...therefore...I will sit at home watching So You Think You Can Dance eating oreos instead of running.

Dear Little Peanut,

You are SEVEN MONTHS old!  It’s such a big number to say.  You have certainly dashed past several milestones in the past month.  On one hand I am so proud of you and I love watching you grow and learn.  On the other hand, that teeny little helpless baby is farther and farther away.  And it makes me panic, just a wee bit.  I want to soak up every bit of every stage and phase you go through.  I find myself saying, now this is my favorite age, right here.  But I know I’ll just keep saying that as the months roll into years.  (Except when we get to your teenage years.  I’m ok with skipping that part altogether) You are my little buddy and I can’t wait to show you and teach you more about that big world out there.  I have a feeling you’ll dive right in and find happiness and pleasure in the simple things.  I can’t wait to see it all unfold.

Fact about YOU:

-        - You are in size 3 cruisers now.  Gone are the sweet swaddlers.

-      -   You are a petite lady and still don’t fit into 6 month clothing.  I’ve even put you in 0-3 leggings a few times recently.  They’re a bit short, but they protect those baby legs that are constantly crawling around. 

-        - You have TWO teeth!  Your bottom right one came in first, and then we found your top left one too!  You haven’t been too cranky about it, but it does wake you up at night.  Even though I complain about losing the sleep, it is sweet to have that you and me time again.  Especially now that you snuggle on purpose.

-        - You crawl and try to get into everything you’re not supposed to.  You use your right knee and then push off with your left foot.  It’s a bit crooked but I guess it’s just what comes naturally.  I bought you a baby fence to keep you corralled when we can’t have our eyes on you. 

-      -   You pull up to stand on everything too.  You like to make sure we’re watching, then let go of one hand.  Then you let go of the other.  You can stand there for a couple seconds, then plop down on your bottom.  You are SO proud of yourself.

-        - Your new trick is you stick your tongue and blow raspberries.  It’s so cute.  And so drooly.

-        - You give kisses on purpose now.  I’ll say, give me sugars!, and you’ll come at me with that slobbery open baby mouth.  It’s adorable and I love it.

-       -  Your hair has stopped growing, and it’s still strawberry blonde.  And you still have a mohawk. 

-        - You sit in the tub by yourself now.  I still wash you in your seat so I can have both hands, but as soon as you’re washed I set you free and you play.  You’re going to love the pool, I can tell.

-        - When we take something away from you or tell you no, you fuss a little.  But it’s never an actual fit.  You recover quickly and are on to the next thing.

-        - You are a social butterfly.  You make friends EVERYWHERE we go.  You stare people down until they look at you and then give them that glorious smile.  Of course they can’t resist and have to meet you.  You are passed around at church every Sunday.  People love to be around you!

-        - You eat solids three times a day.  We’re slowly introducing new fruits and veggies.  Your favorite at the moment…prunes.  And that’s good because I make you eat them every day to keep things moving.

-        - You drink from a sippy cup.  But really you teethe on a sippy cup and water gets into your mouth on accident.  Whatever, it works.

-        - You are SO CLOSE to waving.  Every morning your Nana and I try to get you to wave bye bye as I’m leaving.  You finally know we want you to do something, so you flail your arm.  Not quite a wave, but it makes my heart melt anyway.

-        - You love Stella and she thinks she is your mommy.  You lean over to give her sugars and she totally gives them right back if I’m not looking.  Gross.  If I tell you no when you’re headed somewhere you shouldn’t go, she tries to herd you back to me. 

-       -  You suck your thumb when you’re hungry or sleepy.

-        - You love books.  They are the first thing you go to when we’re in your nursery.  You know how to turn the pages when we’re reading if I help you out.

-        - You are totally in love with your daddy and can’t get enough sugars from him.  You like to feel his beard and try to bite his nose.

I’m sure I’m missing a TON of other things that make you special right now.  But just know that we are loving every day with you and our family is so much fun with you as the entertainment!

Chaos Is My Life

I don't have time to write a proper post, and for that I am sorry.  Mostly for future Peanut who will read these reminiscing about her first months here on this earth and realize that her mom has let WAY too much time go by without any record that it ever happened.  Sorry Peanut.  I know I should be much better about keeping up with this, especially since you are our first offspring.

Now that I have that off of my chest, here are a bunch of random pictures of our life recently.  Not in any order.  And they're not edited either.  Like I said, no time.  Well, maybe there would be time if I could go without sleep.  But that results in a manic emotional breakdown.  P won't let that happen because usually he is the one picking up the pieces.  And by that I mean running to the store for coconut milk ice cream.  Because we're still dairy free.

Speaking of that, we had your six month well visit and all is good.  You still break out when I eat the milk products, so that's a no no.  Solids don't really agree with you (constipation is a beast), but we're figuring out what, ahem, gets things going.  You're around the 25th percentile for weight.  Normal but on the petite size.  And guess what percentile your head size is??  5th!  Apparently that's ok, but I was like, whoa doc...should I be worried?  Teeny headed baby!  At least you look normal (I think).

You have a tooth now.  You crawl.  You pull up.  You try to stand.  You are dying to walk.  We bought you a baby fence.  Seriously.  It comes in the mail this week.

this was my anniversary present from the hubs.  i love it.  it's meaningful and classy.  perfection.

peanut's new trick.  pulling up and then letting go to see if she can stand by herself. it usually results in her falling on her bottom and laughing her face off.

this is the view from our backyard.  sunsets make me happy.  however there is an empty lot right behind our fence.  fingers crossed they won't build a two story.

peanut's new nursery.  it's a mess.  but i'm working on it.  we're thinking about changing things up a bit too.  more to come on that later.

i never got to show off the bedding my mom made for the babe.  it's serena and lily fabric.  but it was made with love by nana.  and she sewed this tag on the bedskirt. i think it's lovely and special.

hanging out next to the big girl diapers.  size 3.  no more swaddlers.  we're on to cruisers.

a dear friend of the family made the punkin this gator bow

i really dig it

i think she does too. go gators.  can you see a glimpse of that tooth??

"i love my toys!"

she found the door stop and it's her new favorite toy.  it goes boing.  sidenote: my ripped jeans are from sophmore year of college.  abercrombie style.  i may not look the same in them, but shoot.  they button.  victory.

her favorite toy at the moment

"hey ma...that is MAH TOY"

once again, trying to stand up.  and falling.

her favorite part of all toys.  the tags.

mc sassy pants.  with her grubby paws on the freshly painted walls.

I'm trying to think of anything else I've missed.  We're slowly painting the living room.  So it looks fantastic at the moment (sarcasm font).  We're probably going to save up to paint the cabinets white.  We need more furniture.  Our grass is infested with chinch bugs.  I don't even know how to really spell that.  I love supremely spicy hummus and take it to work every day.  My milk supply tanked last week to an all time low which resulted in tears and stress and worry.  It's back up this week thank goodness.  I credit the pint of coconut milk ice cream i had last night.  Beer is supposed to boost your milk supply.  I try to drink it but I hate the taste.  I can't finish one.  Even for the baby.  I need a job where I can work from home so i don't miss my baby.  Turkey burgers complete me.  Jillian Michaels means business and I won't be able to walk tomorrow.  Tonight was the first time I've shredded in about 2 months.  Ok enough rambling.  I'm sorry teenager peanut.  I promise we love you.  We just don't blog enough.